Wide-out Brewer On The Shelf - Talent show to remember Herrion

San Francisco wide receiver C.J. Brewer is expected to miss this season after tearing a ligament in his right knee.

Brewer, a second-year pro who spent last season on the 49ers' practice squad, said he'll have surgery on Friday.

A longshot to make the San Francisco roster, Brewer was injured during practice on Tuesday when he caught a pass, attempted a violent cut and his knee buckled.

"It's just a road bump," Brewer said. "I'll be back in the offseason, ready to compete again."
Brewer, who wasn't drafted after his senior season at Wyoming in 2005, wasn't allowed to play in NFL Europe this summer, because league doctors couldn't detect an ACL in his left knee. He tore that ligament four years ago.

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The 49ers marked the second anniversary of Thomas Herrion's death with a team talent show Tuesday named in his honor. Coach Mike Nolan said last year the team paid tribute to Herrion, but it was a sorrowful occasion. Nolan said this year's talent show was something that the good-natured Herrion (left,in 2005) would have appreciated. Rookie Patrick Willis was among the standout performers. He wore a wig and tried to do a musical impression of James Brown, Nolan said. Nolan noted of Willis' singing, "The high notes were tough for him to get to, but he tried." Nolan thoroughly enjoyed the comic performance, and afterward he passed along his compliments to Willis.

Herrion provided special memories during training camp of 2005. Herrion made a memorable impression when he came to the rescue of quarterback Alex Smith, his former Utah teammate. Smith was supposed to sing the Utah fight song. When Smith was clearly struggling, Herrion came to the rescue. Herrion stood at the back of the room and starting singing along in quite animated fashion.

Several days later, Herrion died of a heart attack in the moments after an Aug. 20, 2005, exhibition game against the Denver Broncos.