San Francisco 49ers duo Navorro Bowman and Mike Iupati could be ruled out for a large part of the off-season having been injured during last night's NFC championship game against the Seattle Seahawks.
Bowman was carted off the field during the fourth quarter of his side's 23-17 defeat to the Seahawks yesterday after contesting a fumble with Marshawn Lynch on the goal line.
The NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate was unable to continue, and 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said after the match that he suspected a torn ACL.
Left guard Iupati was also forced to leave the field during the match after injuring his ankle on a play that saw 49ers full-back Anthony Dixon score a one-yard touchdown to give his side a 10-0 lead in the second quarter.
As with Bowman, San Francisco are still awaiting further news on the injury, although Harbaugh believes that Iupati may have fractured his ankle.
The defeat ensured that the 49ers did not reach the Super Bowl for a second consecutive season, with the Seahawks setting up a clash against the Denver Broncos in the showpiece event on February 2.
