49ers All-Pro defensive lineman Justin Smith came through Saturday's game fine despite playing with a partially torn left triceps tendon, coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday.
Smith, wearing a bulky brace on his left arm, played 55 of 60 snaps and made five tackles in San Francisco’s 45-31 win over Green Bay. He expects to be better for Sunday’s NFC championship game in Atlanta.
"It felt pretty good," Smith told the San Francisco Chronicle. "It held up pretty well. It doesn't feel too bad right now ... It didn't feel much different at all. It was a weird feeling of having a brace on. I've never played with a brace before, but I got used to it pretty quick. I'm sure I'll feel even better with it next week."
Nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga told the paper that "it felt like Justin didn't miss any games. It was like Justin was Justin. He's like a miracle."
Smith, 33, made the AP All-Pro team at defensive tackle and defensive end for the second-straight season. This time it was on the second team.
He finished with 66 tackles and three sacks despite missing two games with the injury, which might require offseason surgery.
In other 49ers' injury news, LT Joe Staley suffered a bruised right arm in the playoff win. X-rays came back negative.
Harbaugh told reporters Monday he didn’t have an update on Staley, who helped neutralize Packers LB Clay Matthews.
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