49ers’ Young Injures His Throwing Hand

Rookie John Avery, a first-round draft choice from Mississippi, ran for 99 yards and two touchdowns--one covering 71 yards--in the Miami Dolphins’ 21-20 victory over the San Francisco 49ers in an injury-marred exhibition at San Francisco.

Steve Young, who had his most extensive playing time of the preseason for the 49ers, threw three touchdown passes to Terrell Owens, who had seven catches for 142 yards.

But Young was injured on his last throw, a 26-yard scoring pass to Owens early in the third quarter. Defensive end Trace Armstrong charged in from the left side, and Young’s passing hand appeared to hit Armstrong’s helmet as he followed through on the throw.

Young ran off the field grimacing and holding his left wrist. He watched the rest of the game from the sideline with his hand wrapped in a bandage. Young, who was 13 of 21 passing for 232 yards, said he might not play the 49ers’ final exhibition Friday against the Seahawks at Seattle.

The Dolphins (3-0), who like the 49ers (2-2) played their regulars into the third quarter, had wide receivers Charles Jordan and O.J. McDuffie leave the game because of injuries. Jordan, who caught a 37-yard touchdown pass from Dan Marino, suffered a groin injury while McDuffie had a bruised left knee. Miami is already without another wide receiver, Yatil Green, a former first-round draft selection who will miss his second consecutive season after reinjuring his knee in practice last week.

Dolphin safety Calvin Jackson (groin injury) and 49er center Harris Barton (sprained ankle) also had to leave the game.