49ers NaVorro Bowman Suffers Horrific Left Knee Injury

SEATTLE -- The San Francisco 49ers lost one of their best players to a serious injury in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship Game at Seattle. Inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman suffered what appeared to be a gruesome knee injury on a bizarre play at the goal line. Bowman appeared to have a fumble recovery, but the officials ruled Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch ended up with the ball.Bowman, a candidate for the NFL Defensive Player of the Year Award, was taken off the field on a cart, and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said after the game it appeared Bowman suffered a torn ACL.Even worse: Bowman's left knee was pinned under Kearse as he went to the ground and he left the field on a stretcher. Karma doesn't need replay, however. On 4th-and-goal from the one-yard line, Marshawn Lynch mishandled the handoff and the 49ers ended up with the ball on their own 15-yard line. (Of course, two plays later, Colin Kaepernick threw an interception so ... who the hell knows what to make of this.)Earlier in the half, a Seahawks rusher should have been flagged for roughing the kicker, a 15-yard penalty, because he contacted punter Andy Lee's plant foot.Coupled with a broken ankle for left guard Mike Iupati, that’s a pair of dramatic injuries from a physical game. That will clear two more spots in next week’s Pro Bowl, in addition to the guys who will replace all the Broncos and Seahawks in the all-star game.James had attempted to field the punt from Seattle's Jon Ryan on the first play of the second quarter, but the ball hit off his chest. As he attempted to reach for the ball, Lockette hit James hard to the turf. The 49ers announced that James was questionable to return, but he returned to field a kickoff later in the second quarter.