The surgery to repair Jerry Rice's damaged left knee was successful. Still ahead for the NFL's greatest receiver is a long and demanding rehabilitation.
"If anybody can come back from an injury like that, it's Jerry Rice," said 49ers teammate cornerback Rod Woodson, who suffered a serious knee injury himself two years ago while with Pittsburgh."I know him and he's going to bounce back from this," receiver Iheanyi Uwaezuoke added Monday. "If the majority of what's involved in rehabbing is hard work, then in essence that task is going to be easy for a guy like Jerry Rice. He's the hardest-working person I know."
An MRI test confirmed the 34-year-old Rice tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments, along with cartilage, in his left knee when he was tackled during the second quarter of Sunday's 13-6 loss at Tampa Bay.
He underwent 2 1/2 hours of surgery Monday at Stanford Hospital and will be sidelined for at least the rest of the regular season.
"The injury was extensive, but the surgery went well," said team physician Dr. Michael Dillingham, who performed the operation. "We can expect Jerry to be playing football in the future."
Rice, the NFL career leader in touchdowns, receptions and receiving yardage, is an 11-time Pro Bowler but his play was only one aspect of his importance to the 49ers.
He was a leader and role model in addition to being a playmaker, and the team will be hard pressed to fill the void created by his absence.
"I think everyone, when their time comes, in their own little way, has to step up and be accounted for, and that's the best way that I know of for us to get through this thing," Uwaezuoke said.
Added Woodson: "When you have someone go down, as a team you have to rally around each other. If you don't come closer together, then you'll be spread apart. We're going to find out what we're made of."
The injury will end Rice's playing streak of 189 straight regular-season, nonstrike games. He has played 176 games in a row with at least one reception.