Stenstrom Becomes 49ers’ Quarterback

It’s Steve Stenstrom’s turn to try to reverse the San Francisco 49ers’ sagging fortunes.

Stenstrom, the team’s third-string quarterback at the start of the season who played at El Toro High and Stanford, took over the starter’s role Wednesday from slumping Jeff Garcia. Garcia had gone 1-4 in the five games since replacing injured Steve Young.

The 49ers have failed to score an offensive touchdown in their last two games.

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St. Louis Ram Coach Dick Vermeil said it will be at least another week before linebacker Leonard Little will be activated for game action. Little is coming off an eight-game, NFL-imposed suspension after pleading guilty to involuntary manslaughter in an auto accident that killed a woman. . . . Dallas Cowboy quarterback Troy Aikman will miss at least one game while recovering from concussions in consecutive weeks, but he said retirement is not an option he is considering. . . . Minnesota Viking defensive end Duane Clemons said he was fined $7,500 by the NFL for punching Dallas Cowboy tackle Flozell Adams below the belt. . . . With his team’s ground game ranked dead last in the NFL, Arizona Cardinal Coach Vince Tobin has named Michael Pittman as the starting running back in place of Adrian Murrell.