Injured tight end rejoins 49ers

Tuesday, Aug. 3, 2004 | 9:50 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

Eric Johnson won't let an injured right thumb hinder his comeback with the San Francisco 49ers.

A fourth-year tight end, Johnson returned to practice Monday at Santa Clara, Calif., after missing the team's three previous sessions. He dislocated the thumb at Saturday's practice.

Johnson visited a hand specialist Sunday and later had an MRI that revealed a torn ligament in the thumb. He will practice with a soft cast on his hand for the next month that leaves his four fingers free.

"It wasn't as serious as it could have been," 49ers coach Dennis Erickson said. "He'll have to have the padding there to protect his thumb, but he'll play in the preseason and be able to go cast-free before our first (regular-season) game."

Johnson became San Francisco's starting tight end immediately after he joined the team as a rookie in 2001. But he missed the entire 2003 season after breaking his collarbone.

The injury wasn't expected to be season-ending, but Johnson experienced complications during his recovery. He eventually had an operation at the end of December to graft bone from his hip into the spot where his collarbone wasn't healing properly. Johnson's weight fell below 225 pounds during the offseason, but he said the ordeal is behind him.