NFL ROUNDUP : 49ers’ Bono Is Injured in Victory

Steve Bono, the San Francisco 49ers’ backup quarterback, will miss five to eight weeks after suffering a separated left shoulder Monday night during a 16-13 exhibition victory over the Denver Broncos at Denver.

Once quarterback-rich, the 49ers suffered another loss when Bono was hit by defensive end Darren Drozdov as he released a second-quarter pass. Drozdov landed on Bono as they fell.

The 49ers already were without Steve Young, who has a hairline fracture of his left thumb, and Bill Musgrave, who sat out because of sore ribs. During the off-season, the 49ers traded Joe Montana to Kansas City.

Rookie Elvis Grbac came off the bench to direct two second-half scoring drives for the 49ers and Mike Cofer kicked a 37-yard field goal on the final play of the game.

“It’s a blow to the team to lose Steve,” Coach George Seifert said of Bono. “Denver banged up a pretty good player.

“But we are fortunate to have Grbac and Musgrave. Although they have never started a game, I feel they would do fine if they were put in that position. The other players on our team would just have to turn it up a notch.”

The 49ers (3-0) won their 13th consecutive exhibition game dating to 1991 and secured their fifth consecutive exhibition victory over the Broncos (1-1).

Grbac drove San Francisco 77 yards in 13 plays for the winning field goal, which sailed over the left upright and which the Broncos argued was wide. Replays were inconclusive.

Grbac directed a 71-yard, 13-play drive in the third quarter for the tying touchdown.

Detroit 24, Houston 20--A 37-yard interception return by Mike Iaquaniello to Houston’s three-yard line set up Chuck Long’s touchdown pass to Vernon Turner with 8:46 to play, rallying the Lions at Houston.

Al Del Greco kicked two field goals, and Warren Moon and Cody Carlson threw touchdown passes as the Oilers moved ahead, 20-17, after three quarters.

But a pass by Carlson was tipped by Dan Owens of the Lions and Iaquaniello grabbed it to set up the decisive points.