SANTA CLARA – Concussions already have cost one 49ers defender, Jeff Ulbrich, the season and will keep another out of Sunday's game in Houston.
Mike Singletary said Friday that starting strong safety Michael Lewis would miss the Texans game after suffering a concussion while trying to tackle Falcons running back Michael Turner two weeks ago.
That concussion was Lewis' third over a short span.
The first came during a scrimmage with the Raiders on Aug. 18.
Eleven days later, he took a knee to the side of the helmet in an exhibition game against the Cowboys.
Concussions always have been a thorny issue for the NFL, and they have been particularly newsworthy this month.
An NFL-commissioned survey released this month suggested that retired players suffer from dementia-related ailments far more frequently than the general public.
The survey prompted the House Judiciary Committee to summon league Commissioner Roger Goodell and players union chief DeMaurice Smith to Washington, D.C., for a concussion-related hearing next week.
Singletary has said results of the neurological tests given to Lewis in recent weeks have been good. Still, doctors want to monitor him for at least another week.
"I think it was a matter of continuing to talk to the doctors, continuing to talk to the trainers and just making a decision on what's really best for him," Singletary said.
The test results for Ulbrich, meanwhile, were more troubling, and the linebacker was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, ending his season.
With Lewis out, Mark Roman – a starter last year at free safety – will take over at strong safety against a Texans passing offense ranked third in the NFL.
Another safety, Reggie Smith, is out because of a groin injury, so rookie Curtis Taylor could play extensively in Houston.
Offensive reinforcements – The 49ers hope the addition of two players will boost their plodding offense.
Rookie Michael Crabtree, of course, is set to debut, and might start at split end.
Singletary said Crabtree, Josh Morgan and Isaac Bruce would play about equally.
Meanwhile, running back Frank Gore was a full-go in practice all week.
Gore missed most of the last three games because of an ankle injury.
Read Matthew Barrows' archives and blogs at www.sacbee.com/sf49ers.
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