This and that from today in Santa Clara:
• According to coach Mike Singletary, Frank Gore’s broken hip is less serious than anticipated. Singletary said the fracture is small and will not require surgery.
He doesn’t anticipate Gore accompanying the team to Green Bay, but rookie RB Anthony Dixon he’ll be motivated to play with the same passion as his injured teammate and mentor.
“He loved to be out there every play giving his all for the team,” Dixon
said. “He laid it on the line every game. That’s just what I want to
bring to the team — just his grit.”
• C David Baas said he felt much better today after experiencing
dizziness, headaches and nausea following his concussion against the
Cardinals on Monday night.
This is Baas’ second concussion in less than four months. He missed five
days of training camp after suffering a concussion on Aug. 2. That
concussion was characterized as “mild.” Baas said he didn’t believe his
latest concussion was as severe. Baas will have to pass tests in order
to play Sunday.
“I feel good today,” he said. “I feel like I’ll be ready to play, but
it’s day to day. Like I said, you don’t want to mess with the head. It’s
my second one of the year. I’m going to follow what they say and go
from there.”
If Baas can’t play, Tony Wragge would start in his place with Adam
Snyder likely serving as Wragge’s backup. Wragge earned favorable
reviews after filling in at left tackle against St. Louis and stepping
in for Baas against Arizona.
• RB DeShawn Wynn, promoted from the practice squad Tuesday, will suit
up Sunday against the Packers, who selected him in the seventh round of
the 2007 draft.
Due to a series of injuries, Wynn started four games in Green Bay as a
rookie. He had 203 yards on 50 carries and scored four touchdowns in
’07. In 2008, he had 106 yards on seven carries in a game against the Lions and
scored on a 78-yard touchdown run.
He was released by the Saints on Oct. 12 and signed by the Niners on Nov. 8.
“It’s been frustrating,” said Wynn, who has had 14 carries since 2007.
“Every running back wants to carry the ball. I had that role my first
year with injuries and stuff like that. I kind of haven’t had that
opportunity since. But I’m just looking forward to any opportunity I
have here. Special teams — just going out there and performing.”
• Brian Westbrook admitted after Monday’s game that his limited role in
the season’s first 10 games wasn’t what he anticipated when signed with
the Niners in August. Still, Westbrook, who ranks fifth in the NFL since
2004 in yards from scrimmage, has handled the situation with humility
and class.
He’s had plenty of opportunities to at least subtly slam the coaching staff, but he’s resisted.
Given his star status and his role this season, it’s been impressive to see Westbrook publicly accept being an afterthought.
He was asked after Monday’s game if he expected to have such little
playing time this season while serving as Frank Gore’s backup, “That
wasn’t what I was thinking when I first signed on, but when I got to see
the way Frank works and the way he carries out his business every
single day in practice as well as in games … It’s hard to get the guy
off the field because he means so much to this team. I kind of got the
message.”
• After Monday’s game, Takeo Spikes, who played with Westbrook with the
Eagles in 2007, sounded like he was a little miffed by Westbrook’s lack
of use previously this season.
“We hate that Frank went down, but to be able to see Brian Westbrook
come in and to show his flashes of greatness,” Spikes said. “That’s what
he’s always been able to do. But for some reason we haven’t seen it.”
• WR Bakari Grant, G Nick Howell and RB Xavier Omon were added to the practice squad.
The 6-4, 195-pound Grant (UC Davis) was signed by the Niners as undrafted free agent in May and released on Aug. 29.
Howell (6-5, 295) was released by the Titans, who had signed him as
undrafted rookie free agent this year. Howell made six starts at USC and
appeared at every position on the line. His dad, Pat Howell, was an
All-American at USC who played with the Falcons and Oilers.
Omon (5-11, 227) was selected by the Bills in the sixth round of the
2008 draft. He has spent time on the Seahawks and Jets practice squad
the past two seasons. He played at Northwest Missouri State and ranks
third in Division II history in rushing TDs (92).
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