A shoulder epidemic has struck the 49ers. The latest to suffer the injury is linebacker Ahmad Brooks, who sat out his second straight practice on Thursday.
Brooks briefly was on the sideline during the first quarter Sunday while trainers attended to his injury. Veteran Clark Haggans - who along with Jonathan Goodwin is the only active 49er to have won a Super Bowl - filled in for three plays.
Brooks returned to the game and made three pivotal plays. He batted down two passes, the first of which came on a crucial three-and-out in which the Falcons had to punt deep inside their own territory. The 49ers got a good return from Ted Ginn, and the offense quickly scored a touchdown to give San Francisco its first lead.
On the Falcons last full offensive possession, Brooks swatted away another one of Matt Ryan's passes on third down. On an earlier play, he hit Ryan as he threw, giving the quarterback a Grade 2 shoulder separation on his left, non-throwing shoulder.
Brooks is one of nine 49ers listed as having a shoulder injury. That includes his counterpart on the right side of the defense, Aldon Smith, who was limited in practice. Like Brooks, backup tight end Garrett Celek (foot) missed his second straight practice.
Meanwhile, fifteen Ravens did not practice on Wednesday. All save one, linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (ankle, back), were back Thursday.
49ers
Did not participate in practice: LB Ahmad Brooks (shoulder), TE Garrett Celek (foot)
Limited participation: CB Tarell Brown (shoulder), RB Bruce Miller (shoulder), LB Aldon Smith (shoulder)
Full participation: LB Navorro Bowman (shoulder), RB Frank Gore (ankle, shoulder), LB Clark Haggans (shoulder), G Mike Iupati (shoulder), RB LaMichael James (back), DT Justin Smith (elbow, triceps), LB Patrick Willis (shoulder)
Ravens
Did not participate in practice: LB Dannell Ellerbe (ankle, back)
Limited participation: CB Asa Jackson (thigh), DT Haloti Ngata (knee), TE Dennis Pitta (thigh), WR David Reed (thigh)
Full participation: WR Anquan Boldin (shoulder), DT Terrence Cody (foot), WR Tandon Doss (ankle), S James Ihedigbo (knee), RB Vonta Leach (knee, ankle), LB Ray Lewis (other), LB Albert McClellan (shoulder), DE Pernell McPhee (thigh), RB Bernard Pierce (knee), S Bernard Pollard(chest), S Ed Reed (shoulder), CB Jimmy Smith (abdomen), LB Terrell Suggs (achilles, biceps), G Marshal Yanda (shoulder)
-- Matt Barrows
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