IN BRIEF : Montana Undergoes Knee Surgery

Joe Montana underwent arthroscopic surgery last week to repair a troublesome left knee, according to a report published today.

The San Francisco 49ers quarterback will miss the team’s second mini-camp next week but should fully recover in four to six weeks, the Times of San Mateo quoted 49er officials as saying.

Dr. Michael Dillingham, the team’s orthopedic specialist, performed the half-hour surgery last Thursday at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City. “There was some debris floating around in the left knee, and we flushed it out,” he said.

The doctor said the knee actually was better than he had anticipated. “I was pleasantly surprised, and I don’t think it will be a major factor for him,” he said. It is the third time that Montana, who turns 33 on June 11, has been operated on since 1986.