Knee Injury Sidelines 49ers’ Young, Elevating Bono to a Starting Role

Steve Young, the NFC’s top-rated passer, will be sidelined indefinitely because of ligament damage to his left knee, making former third-stringer Steve Bono the San Francisco 49ers’ starting quarterback.

Team physician Michael Dillingham said Monday that Young sustained “a tear or a sprain” of the ligament when he was tackled during Sunday’s 17-14 loss at Atlanta.

The 49ers will play at New Orleans on Sunday.

Neither Dillingham nor Coach George Seifert would say--or could say--when he expects Young to return. An electronic scan Monday of Young’s injury “indicates there may be some other things going on in there but no obvious major other damage,” said Dillingham, who also raised the possibility of surgery on Young.

Young, once part of the league’s best quarterback tandem, joins Joe Montana on the sidelines. A torn right elbow tendon that eventually required surgery has kept Montana out all season.

Seifert said the team plans to audition several quarterback candidates today and will consider activating rookie Bill Musgrave, now a member of the practice squad.