San Francisco's Jerry Rice sets record in NFL return; ends season with another injury

Jet, Jan 12, 1998

When San Francisco 49ers star receiver Jerry Rice went down in the season-opener with a knee inJury, he was not supposed to return.

But remarkably Rice did return to action in just 106 days after he had reconstructive knee surgery, and he did it in dramatic fashion.

Rice's catching a 14-yard touch-down pass in the 49ers romp over the Denver Broncos set an NFL record, making him the first non-kicker to score 1,000 points.

But sadly enough, that record-setting play, the team's first score that night, kicked Rice right back out of action for the duration of the season. When he fell in the end zone, he fell on his rehabilitated knee and cracked his knee-cap, which required more surgery. He is expected to require 8-10 weeks' rehabilitation. Forty-niners coach Steve Mariucci said team physician, Michael Dillingham, said this injury was Rice not related to the two major ligaments that were reconstructed earlier.

The NFL's career leader in touchdowns, receptions and receiving yard-age played in the first half and caught three passes for 40 yards. The 49ers 34-17 victory over the Broncos gave the team home-field advantage in the playoffs over the defending super Bowl champs, the Green Bay Packers.