The San Francisco 49ers lost a close game yesterday to the Carolina Panthers, 23-20. But their chief concern after the game was the health of their quarterback Alex Smith. On a third quarter sack, Smith injured his non-throwing shoulder and as of Monday afternoon, he still has that arm in a sling. The 49ers are seeking a doctor in London, the site of the Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos at Wembley Stadium. "It's all right. Could be better," Smith said after seeing a local London doctor. The 49ers are in a tough spot in a new country, sitting at 1-6, and head coach Mike Singletary elaborated on that optimism of the trip. "For us, it's a nice chance to get away and regroup, rethink," Singletary said. "It really works to be a bonus for us. It really gives us a chance to kind of get away from the hustle and bustle of the NFL, to come over and kind of think through some things, look at maybe some changes we need to make."

Fantasy Analysis:

The 49ers really should've been able to beat the Panthers. Heading into the game, Carolina had only scored 52 points in five games. The Niners then gave up a late lead and gave away the game. The only 49ers worth owning are running back Frank Gore and tight end Vernon Davis. San Francisco's inability to open up the passing game is a big problem. Since defenses only need to cover the first 20 yards of the field with little concern for deep passes, defenses are free to blitz and attack San Francisco's young offensive line. If Smith can't play this week, backup quarterback David Carr would likely get the opportunity to take over. Smith's status for Sunday's game is not yet known.