RAM NOTEBOOK : Henley to Be Hospitalized Overnight

Ram officials said cornerback Darryl Henley would spend the evening in a local hospital after suffering a torn hip flexor muscle in Sunday’s game against the 49ers.

Henley was injured while covering John Taylor with 1 minute 4 seconds remaining in the first half. He had to be supported by trainers as he left the field.

Quarterback Chris Chandler and guard Leo Goeas worked out more than two hours before the game to determine if they could play, but in both cases they were unable to go.

Goeas has been sidelined because of an abdominal muscle pull and Chandler is trying to come back from an ankle injury.

“With four offensive starters out of there, and since they play so well against the run, we knew we’d have to throw on them,” Ram Coach Chuck Knox said.

The Rams, hurt the most along the offensive line, continue to struggle while trying to run the ball. Running back Jerome Bettis, who was limited to 13 yards in 10 carries against the Raiders, gained 29 yards in 15 rushes Sunday.

“We’re just so banged up,” Bettis said. “We had the chance to finish them off, but just couldn’t do it.”

The Rams’ offensive woes appeared to worsen after their initial play. Quarterback Chris Miller, who was back to pass, was sacked by rookie Bryant Young and injured his knee.

“We were very concerned about Chris,” Knox said. “But he wanted to come back in. They taped him up and he came back and played an excellent game.”

Miller missed one offensive series and was replaced by Tommy Maddox, who completed three of four passes for 55 yards, leading the Rams into position for Tony Zendejas’ 31-yard field goal.

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Jerry Rice’s 16 receptions set a 49er team record, and tied him for third on the all-time list with St. Louis’ Sonny Randle (1962). The Rams’ Tom Fears holds the NFL mark with 18 catches against Green Bay in 1950. The Giants’ Clark Gaines is No. 2 at 17 (1980).

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Ram offensive coordinator Chick Harris paid tribute to his players for not packing it in after falling behind, 21-6.

“After all the adversity and everything else that has happened, you have to give them credit for playing hard,” he said. “They were right there until the very end.”

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San Francisco cornerback Deion Sanders, considered the best coverage man in the game, had his share of problems against Ram receiver Flipper Anderson.

Anderson, who missed practice this week because of a deep thigh bruise, caught five passes for 99 yards, all in the second half. He beat Sanders down the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown catch the cut the Rams’ deficit to five points with 3:21 left in the third quarter.

“It was like being a great baseball pitcher and throwing a shutout for seven innings and then giving up six runs,” Sanders said of his second-half slump. “I just wasn’t comfortable out there.”

Said Anderson: “The ball went over Deion’s head as he was looking back for it,” Anderson said. “It was a mistake. He’s a great defensive back, but he’s not Superman. He can be beat too.”

Sanders got revenge on the Rams’ final drive of the game, when he batted away Miller’s 38-yard pass to Anderson in the end zone.

“I thought I had it,” Anderson said, “another six inches and it would have been a touchdown. Deion made a hell of a play.”

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Before the game, Ram cornerback Todd Lyght predicted the 49ers’ first play from scrimmage would be a pass to Jerry Rice, but he was one down off. The 49ers handed off to Ricky Watters on first down, but Steve Young threw 12 yards on second down to Rice, who beat Lyght on the coverage. . . . Jessie Hester’s 17-yard reception in the second quarter extended his streak of games with at least one catch to 73.

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Times staff writers T.J. Simers, Mike Reilley and Mike Penner contributed to this story.