Frank Gore, Ray McDonald Injury Updates

San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) runs the ball against Seattle Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant (79) during the first half of the 2013 NFC Championship football game at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

San Francisco 49ers star running back Frank Gore didn’t have the best of days on Sunday in the NFC Championship Game, as the Seattle Seahawks front seven swarmed all over Gore and held him to just 14 yards and 11 carries. The 49ers rushing attack was carried by Colin Kaepernick’s 130 yards on the ground, but they were clearly hurt by Gore’s inability to get anything going on the ground, though most of the credit should go to the Seahawks defense for clearly winning the battle up front.

It’s possible that Gore was playing through an injury on Sunday, though I highly doubt that’s a big reason why he had just a poor day. Per a league source close to the Sacramento Bee’s Matt Barrows, Gore will have “minor” finger surgery, which isn’t a big deal. Gore will be able to participate in offseason activities, and he’s coming off of another workman-like season as the focal point of the 49ers offense; this guy is a lock to get over 1,100 yards every year.

San Francisco 49ers star 3-4 DE Ray McDonald missed two games earlier this season with a biceps strain, and the Sac Bee also reports that McDonald will be yet another key player on the 49ers to undergo offseason surgery. He’ll need surgery to re-attach his torn biceps tendon after playing through the injury for nearly the entire season. McDonald makes a huge impact as both a run defender and pass rusher, and both he and Justin Smith have long been a dynamic duo on the 49ers defensive line, with McDonald’s impact mostly going unnoticed outside of the state of California.