49ers will start Lewis at strong safety following 2 concussions in preseason

Lewis to start after 2 concussions

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Michael Lewis will start at strong safety in the San Francisco 49ers’ season opener Sunday at Arizona after sustaining two concussions in the preseason.

Lewis’ first concussion occurred Aug. 18 during a joint practice with Oakland at the Raiders’ wine country training site in Napa and he got hit by a fullback. He suffered another in an exhibition game at Dallas on Aug. 29, when he fell and took a knee to the helmet.

“It’s super bad luck,” Lewis said Wednesday as the Niners prepared for the NFC champion Cardinals. “It’s just one of those things. I wouldn’t say scary. I didn’t know I had a mild concussion. I just thought I had a little ding. In football, you keep rolling and you don’t think about it like that.”

Coach Mike Singletary deemed Lewis “good to go” following a series of tests, an MRI exam and examination by a neurologist at nearby Stanford University.

Lewis said he can’t be tentative on the field because that could just lead to more problems.

“I’m just trying to think about getting a tackle,” Lewis said. “It’s just making a play. I’m not worried about position. When you start thinking about how you’re going to make a tackle and how to come up, that’s when you miss a tackle and how you sometimes get hurt.”

The 29-year-old Lewis, a Pro Bowl selection in 2004 while with Philadelphia, enters his eighth NFL season and third with San Francisco after ranking third on the team with 118 tackles in 2008.

Lewis has been evaluated by a computerized test called “ImPACT,” which can help determine the severity of the concussions. The test was developed by the Sports Concussion Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. It puts the brain to work and derives data about points of trauma — measuring attention, memory, processing speed and reaction time.

“Everything’s great,” said Lewis, who never lost consciousness.

He said his wife, Amaris, is still worried about him getting back on the field. Lewis insists if he experiences any symptoms, he’ll tell the team immediately.

“If something comes up, they’ll be the first ones to know,” Lewis said. “That’s the only way I know to play the game. I can’t worry about getting another concussion. … We’re being cautious more than anything.”

With Lewis set to start, the only players Singletary said won’t play are receiver Brandon Jones (broken shoulder) and outside linebacker Ahmad Brooks (knee injury). Singletary said Jones would likely return in October.

San Francisco signed guard Drew Radovich to the practice squad Wednesday.