Quarterback Joe Montana of the San Francisco...

Quarterback Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers went home from the hospital, and his surgeon was optimistic about Montana’s return to professional football.

Montana underwent surgery a week ago for removal of a ruptured disk in his lower back and the widening of his narrow spinal canal.

Arthur White, the doctor who performed the operation, said that Montana would probably be able to return to professional football in two or three months. “The absolute soonest would be two months, and that would be a phenomenal effort,” White said. “On 90% of the adults we have done this kind of surgery on, they have been able to get back to recreational activities. How many heavy hits he can take and how much pain he will have I cannot say.”