Broken bone could finish Owens' career as 49er

The eight-year veteran wide receiver is expected to be a free agent.
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PHILADELPHIA -- Wide receiver Terrell Owens' career with the San Francisco 49ers may have ended Sunday when he went down with a fractured left collarbone in a 31-28 overtime upset of the Philadelphia Eagles.
"As much as I'd like to say, 'No, it isn't the last time I'll throw a pass to T.O.,' that's something the organization is going to have to answer," 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia said. "We all know and realize, in some way, about the potential of T.O. not coming back, and that's left to be said in the offseason."
Owens, an eight-year veteran and the NFL leader in touchdown receptions over the two seasons before this year, is expected to void his contract and become an unrestricted free agent in March.
He got hurt after making his only catch of the game -- a 20-yard reception to the Eagles 35-yard line, where safety Michael Lewis tackled him from behind along the right sideline 2:42 before halftime.
If it wasn't the end of his 49ers career, it was at least the end of his season, one in which he made the Pro Bowl for the fourth straight year.
"I'm still going to Hawaii," Owens told a 49ers staff member while sitting in front of his locker.
Few words
When asked by a reporter if he wished to talk --something he hasn't done with Bay Area sportswriters since Sept. 28 -- he replied: "Nothing's changed. I've got a broken clavicle."
Although he's caught a pass in 115 consecutive games, Owens could have had more than one reception Sunday. He dropped two passes in Eagles territory, and he had a second-quarter pass knocked loose by cornerback Bobby Taylor at the 49ers' 38.
His first drop came when he tried making a one-handed grab off a 5-yard Garcia pass at the Eagles' 27 on the 49ers' first series. He later had a 33-yard pass slip through his hands on a route down the left sideline against tight coverage by Taylor.
Coach Dennis Erickson said Owens' departure didn't force the 49ers to alter their game plan, other than forcing tight end Aaron Walker into four-receiver sets.
"As much as he's a major weapon and an offensive producer, we've had to find ways to move the football without him in games," Garcia said. "We haven't had to do that often because he's been a warrior and battling through injury."
Despite suffering from a groin strain most of this season, Owens hasn't missed a start in 2003 while catching 80 passes for 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns.
Erickson said Owens was to meet with team doctors today to decide if he'll need surgery on what's believed to be a "clean break" of the collarbone.