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Johnson, the 49ers' leading receiver last season with 82 catches for 825 yards, could miss Saturday's preseason opener against Oakland to rest the injury, coach Mike Nolan said. The fifth-year pro missed the 2003 season after breaking his collarbone on the second play of the preseason opener.

Johnson's absence is yet another blow to the 49ers' injury-plagued lineup. Four-fifths of the projected starters on the offensive line are likely to miss Saturday's game with injuries: left tackle Jonas Jennings (finger surgery), left guard Justin Smiley (bruised calf), center Jeremy Newberry (knee surgery) and right guard David Baas (hamstring.)

T.O. leaves camp

Terrell Owens has been sent home by the principal, uh, coach.

The All-Pro wide receiver left Eagles training camp in Bethlehem, Pa., after a verbal exchange Wednesday with Philadelphia coach Andy Reid. Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, and his publicist, Kim Etheredge, said the receiver was asked to return next Wednesday and had gone to his home in New Jersey.

"T.O. was asked to leave by Andy Reid," Etheredge said. "I don't think that it was heated, it was a difference of opinion. I don't know if there was an argument."

Owens told Comcast SportsNet he was "defending himself."

"If the truth needs to be told, then that's what I'll do," said Owens, sidelined with a groin injury for the last week. "If he (Reid) wants me to be a man about it and have me really go on the air and really tell the people what happened, then I can. It was a difference of opinion."

The Eagles responded with a brief statement:

"Terrell Owens has been sent home from training camp due to undisclosed team issues. He is expected to return to the team on Wednesday, August 17th."

Owens has been unhappy for months with his contract. The Eagles have refused to redo his deal of seven years and $48.97 million.

Last season, Owens had 77 receptions for 1,200 yards and a franchise-record 14 touchdowns before severely injuring his ankle late in the year. He missed the final two regular-season games and the first two playoff games before returning for the Super Bowl, in which he had nine receptions for 122 yards.