49ERS Improbable victory comes with a high cost

All-Pro Julian Peterson and fullback Jasen Isom were each lost for the season.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
The elation of Sunday's improbable comeback win against the Arizona Cardinals has been tempered by the loss for the season of the San Francisco 49ers' best player.
All-Pro linebacker Julian Peterson tore his left Achilles' tendon in the first half of Sunday's 31-28 victory at Monster Park and underwent season-ending surgery on Tuesday.
Peterson wasn't alone -- backup fullback Jasen Isom suffered the same injury and had the same procedure. Both will be in casts for eight weeks then begin rehabilitation.
"Peterson's loss is devastating, both as a football leader and a person," 49ers coach Dennis Erickson said. "He's the heart of what we try to do defensively."
Erickson said these are the first Achilles' tendon injuries he's been around in his many years of coaching, so he's not sure exactly how long the recovery process takes.
But Erickson is certain neither player will suit up the rest of the season for the 49ers, the NFL franchise owned by John and Denise DeBartolo York of Canfield.
Contract issues
Peterson was playing under a one-year contract as the 49ers' franchise player and will be a free agent in February unless the team again puts the franchise tag on him.
The two-time Pro Bowl player missed most of the preseason with a contract holdout and had 2 1/2 sacks in the 49ers' first four games. His agents are Carl and Kevin Poston, who also represent Browns rookie tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.
In hopes of becoming the NFL's highest-paid defensive player, Peterson rejected a six-year, $37.8 million contract offer.
Trailing 28-12, the 49ers were destined for their first 0-5 start in 25 years before quarterback Tim Rattay engineered two scoring drives in the final 8 1/2 minutes to force overtime.
Todd Peterson's 32-yard field goal in the extra session gave the 49ers (1-4) a victory against their NFC West Division rivals (1-4).
"It was a very elating win," Erickson said of the team's losing streak. "To score twice is one thing but to get the two [two-point] conversions as well is unbelievable."
Strong start
In his sixth NFL start, Rattay completed 38-of-57 passes for 417 yards and has been named the NFC Player of the Week.
"That was by far the best game he's played," said Erickson, noting Rattay's wins last year over the St. Louis Rams and Pittsburgh Steelers. "He's getting better -- the rust is starting to come off.
"He made two big scrambles -- one on the first two-point conversion, the other for about 15 yards on the game-tying drive," Erickson said.
Rattay injured his knee in May's minicamp and rehabbed it through much of training camp. In the season opener against, the Atlanta Falcons, Rattay suffered a separated shoulder.
This Sunday, the 49ers will play the New York Jets (4-0) at Giants Stadium. Defensive end Brandon Whiting is expected to line up despite the high ankle sprain he suffered Sunday.
"It looks like he'll play but sometimes you hear things on Monday that change on Tuesday," Erickson said. "We expect him to play but not practice."
Linebacker Derek Smith (ankle) and defensive end Andre Carter (back) are doubtful.
williams@vindy.com