Young Skips Practice, Will Probably Play

Elvis Grbac took all the practice snaps in place of sore-ribbed Steve Young as the San Francisco 49ers began three days of playoff preparations in Tempe, Ariz.

“It’s been a little rough the last couple of days,” said Young, who injured his ribs when hit while running for a touchdown in Sunday’s 14-0 wild-card victory over Philadelphia. “They’re sore, but I expect to practice [today].”

Young was still listed as questionable for Saturday’s NFC divisional playoff game, although 49er Coach George Seifert said Monday that Young would probably play.

Meanwhile, questions arose about the extent of Young’s injury, described by Seifert as bruised ribs.

Offensive assistant Bill Walsh, in talking about Young’s injury, mentioned the quarterback had suffered cartilage tears in his rib cage. Seifert said team physicians, who are prohibited by the club from talking to the media, didn’t tell him about anything other than bruising.

Young shed no additional light on the matter, telling reporters to “ask the doctors” when he was asked what they had told him.

“They told me I could play,” Young said.

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Don Beebe, the star of Green Bay’s regular-season victory over the San Francisco 49ers, is listed as questionable for Saturday’s playoff rematch because of a hamstring injury.

Beebe, who set career highs with 11 catches for 220 yards in the Packers’ 23-20 overtime victory over the 49ers on Oct. 14, said he expects to play “unless I do something worse to it the rest of the week.”

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The Carolina Panthers have suspended second-year defensive end Shawn King for the remainder of the season for violations of the team’s attendance policies, Coach Dom Capers announced.

King had 28 tackles during the regular season, including three sacks, as a reserve lineman.