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          NaVorro Bowman to see Dr. Andrews

          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterNov 21, 2014, 07:32 PM ET
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              Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
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          While NaVorro Bowman's 21-day evaluation window opened Tuesday, the San Francisco 49ers' All-Pro inside linebacker did not practice this week.

          Rather, Bowman, who tore the ACL and MCL in his left knee in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 19, continued to work on individual and agility drills and was scheduled to meet with a certain noted orthopedic surgeon.

          "The latest [news] is Dr. [James] Andrews is flying into town today to meet with him," Niners coach Jim Harbaugh said.

          The result of said meeting presumably will dictate Bowman's practice schedule next week.

          "I think that's a good way to state it," Harbaugh said. "Don't think we're going too far on a limb to state that that would be the case."

          Bowman had been observed earlier in the month working on change-of-direction drills.

          "I saw him doing the same," Harbaugh said. "He's done the same routine."

          All of which begs the question: Has Bowman suffered a setback?

          "Not that I know of," Harbaugh said.

          Niners defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was a tad more expansive on Bowman a day earlier.

          "He's certainly working his butt off to try and get back," Fangio said. "It'll take a couple weeks of practice before we would throw him out there in a game. He's in a totally different situation than Aldon [Smith] was.

          "[Bowman is] coming back from inactivity and an injury. That will be play-it-by-ear as we go."

          Fangio was also asked if Bowman was feeling soreness in his surgically repaired knee.

          "I don't think so," Fangio said. "And again, he hadn't told me that. I haven't specifically asked him that. But he is only 10 months, I believe, or less than that, exactly from the date of the operation."

          Bowman has said he will not speak to reporters again until he hits the practice field.

          Meanwhile, fellow All-Pro inside linebacker Patrick Willis sent out pictures on social media Friday to announce he had undergone successful surgery on his big left toe.

          Harbaugh said he did not know if Willis would be able to participate in offseason training programs with the 49ers.

          The 49ers will be without defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey, who came off the injured reserve list this week but is still experiencing problems following surgery to repair a biceps tear, and tackle Anthony Davis, who is suffering from post-concussion symptoms. Davis previously tweeted that it occurred on the final offensive play of the 49ers' win last Sunday over the New York Giants.

          The Associated Press contributed to this report.