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Yates� NFL bid sidetracked by broken fingers By Don Hunt One play. One tackle. Two broken fingers. Those were the sobering statistics Griff Yates put into the book during his brief stint in a National Football League game on Monday night. The former Southern Oregon University standout broke the middle and index fingers on his left hand while making a tackle on the San Francisco 49ers punt team in a nationally televised game against New England The injury, which required surgery, will sidelined Yates for at least another week and will force him to miss today�s exhibition game against San Diego. It also leaves the free agent running back�s future in doubt. "I�m just hoping they give me another chance because I think I was doing a good job in practice," Yates said Friday from the 49ers practice headquarters in Stockton, Calif. "I was definitely holding my own." Yates has survived several roster cuts since camp began in mid-July and is benefiting from injuries to veteran running back Garrison Hearts and fifth-round draft choice Paul Smith, who have yet to take the practice field. Bates has been in a battle with sixth-year pro Travis Jersey and fellow underrated rookie Jonas Lewis for the backup running back spot behind Charlie Garner. "I�ve been getting a lot of reps in practice and have made some good runs," Yates said. "I think I�ve surprised the coaches with my speed.�� Yates was a regular on all of the 49er special teams other than the field goal unit and was scheduled to join the offense in the third and fourth quarters of Monday night�s game. But his playing time came to an abrupt halt on his first play. "I tackled the guy, got up and couldn�t move my hand," Yates said. "I went over to the sideline and the team doctor said it was busted." Yates, who had to have five pins inserted into his hand to hold the bones together, is also recovering from a pulled groin. He hopes to be back in time for the 49ers exhibition game against New England on Aug. 13. "I�m still going to practice :� I�m still staying in it mentally," he said. Yates was a three-time NAIA All-American at Southern Oregon, rushing for 4,757 yards and 57 touchdowns during his four seasons with the Raiders. The Coquille native holds 28 school, league or regional records. If Yates makes the final roster cut, he will likely earn the NFL rookie minimum of $193,000. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA