Steve Young Not Expected to Play

San Francisco quarterback Steve Young, staggered by a second concussion in three weeks, almost certainly won’t play next Sunday when the 49ers play host to the Baltimore Ravens, and teammates worried about the physical toll on the quarterback from the succession of head blows.

Young was scheduled to see a specialist today, although team physician Dr. James Klint has recommended that Young sit out at least one week.

Coach George Seifert said the team is taking all due precautions and the possible cumulative effect from the concussions remains a serious concern.

“Troy Aikman has gone through the same thing and is still playing effectively as we all saw [Sunday],” Seifert said. “It’s something that is part of the game, but to where we are in this situation, I’d be surprised if it’s to a Chris Miller position or Al Toon.”

Miller and Toon were driven into retirement after suffering repeated concussions.

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After throwing two critical interceptions, Elvis Grbac shouldered the blame for the 49ers’ overtime loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

What Grbac didn’t say until Monday was that he has been tormented by worry over a serious illness afflicting his 9-month-old son, Jack. The boy suffers from a form of spina bifida, a congenital defect in which part of one or more vertebrae fails to develop completely. Spina bifida can lead to paralysis and other complications.

“There’s a lot of stuff going on in my life right now and No. 1 is my family,” said Grbac. “There’s other things more important than football at times.”

Two weeks ago, Jack underwent five hours of surgery in which doctors removed the clump to try to alleviate some of the pressure on the spinal cord. He spent five days in the hospital but is back at home and doing well, Grbac said.

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Green Bay quarterback Brett Farve lost another target from his once-vaunted receiving corps when tight end Mark Chmura tore his left arch in the Packers’ loss at Kansas City on Sunday. He was put in a cast and will sit out at least four weeks.

Also, wide receivers Terry Mickens and Anthony Morgan sprained their necks when they took hard shots from safeties in the fourth quarter, although both checked out OK on Monday.

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As the Washington Redskins began the task of solving the problems of a defense that has given up 75 points and 1,091 yards over the last two games, they learned they will be without 10-year veteran offensive right tackle Ed Simmons for about four weeks.

Simmons, who had been playing in pain for more than a month, had arthroscopic surgery to repair cartilage in his right knee.

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Carolina’s often-injured quarterback Kerry Collins came out of the Panthers’ 27-17 victory over the New York Giants with seven stitches in his chin and a bruised clavicle that’s hampering the mobility in his throwing shoulder. But Coach Dom Capers said Collins’ left knee, which he sprained a week earlier against Atlanta for the second time this season, wasn’t damaged further and he’ll play this week against the Rams.