Jan 19, 2014; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati (77) is helped off the field after an injury against the Seattle Seahawks during the first half of the 2013 NFC Championship football game at CenturyLink Field. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati will not face surgery after suffering a broken bone in his right leg during the second quarter of Sunday night’s NFC Championship game.
Iupati fractured the left fibula but sustained no ligament damage. The bone should heal in eight weeks, NFL.com reported Monday.
It was initially believed that Iupati suffered an ankle injury on a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Anthony Dixon early in the second quarter that gave the 49ers a 10-0 lead. Backup lineman Adam Snyder replaced Iupati.
The 26-year-old Iupati was plagued by shoulder and knee injuries that limited him to 12 games during the regular season. He missed four games with an MCL sprain that occurred in a loss to the New Orleans Saints in November.
