49ers-Dolphins: Gore is game-time decision

by David Fucillo on Dec 10, 2008 11:34 AM PST in San Francisco 49ers News

I don't have the specifics from the team yet, but Barrows just posted that Mike Singletary announced Frank Gore would be a game-time decision. It's a link, but obviously worth a little more face time than most links.

According to Barrows:

Gore will not practice today and Singletary said that DeShaun Foster will get the bulk of the practice repetitions this week. If Thomas Clayton is elevated to the active roster, it will be later this week, perhaps Saturday.

Apparently it's "inside sprain" of the left ankle and NOT a high ankle sprain. I remain convinced Gore will play this Sunday. Consider the facts: it's his hometown and he's so close to the third consecutive 1,000 yard season (which no 49er RB has accomplished). If Gore ended up inactive on Sunday it'd have to take some pretty strong action from Singletary.

Also, according to Barrows, Nate Clements is likely to be probable this week after having the pin removed from his finger. Josh Morgan will see a full practice while Arnaz Battle apparently aggravated his foot sprain and won't practice today. More to come on all these injuries.

Tweet Comment 11 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Clayton going to Miami...

just heard on KNBR

by StrictlyFootball on Dec 10, 2008 1:05 PM PST reply actions

whut

by James Brady on Dec 10, 2008 1:18 PM PST up reply actions

I second that...

whut?

by Rishi on Dec 10, 2008 1:52 PM PST up reply actions

If we're smart...

We’ll have Clayton on the roster and ready to roll, even if Gore thinks he can go. You wouldn’t want to have Gore for five plays… then he can’t continue. Then if anything happens with Foster you’re between a rock and a hard place.

Not sure who we would let go if it came to putting him on the roster. Maybe Marcus Hudson? He has a lot of young bodies ahead of him anyway. Or if the Niners are feeling positive about Haralson and Roderick Green, and realizing they need to address the pass rush specialist this off-season anyway, is it time to end the TBC experiment?

by Grumpy Guy on Dec 10, 2008 1:20 PM PST reply actions

No, do not drop Tully at this time of the season.

Clayton is worth activating if, and only if, the coaching staff has no faith in Robinson as an every-down back.

by Rishi on Dec 10, 2008 1:53 PM PST up reply actions

Re:

I agree with not cutting Banta-Cain. If anyone is going to get cut for Clayton, it might be the guy that just cleared waivers recently: Ahmad Brooks.

I’m not sure the 49ers haven’t already given up on Robinson as an every-down back. He’s been awefully situational the past two years, hasn’t he? The team should activate Clayton if Gore goes inactive.

Based on what I’ve read, I don’t even think Gore should play this week. The season is over (in terms of NEEDING to win). Why risk him getting an even more serious injury?

by sfgfan on Dec 10, 2008 4:01 PM PST up reply actions

I love that

“Awfully situational”. It really describes Robinson, unfortunately. He really hasn’t made the impression a lot of folks thought he would. There was a lot of talk about his “slash” abilities but whether by coaching choice or practice field performance we haven’t seen it. If Clayton’s pass blocking has improved Robinson becomes irrelevant. I’d actually like to see a real fullback on next year’s roster, though. I suspect some of the dropoff in Gore’s yards-per-carry in Martz’s offense is due to not having a bruiser ahead of him knocking down a linebacker a couple yards past the line of scrimmage..

Can you imagine having a date tell you, “I’m sorry, John. You’re a nice guy but you’ve become awfully situational lately.”

by Bob In Beaverton on Dec 11, 2008 7:57 AM PST up reply actions

Robinson.

I think Martz really likes the guy and would LOVE to gameplan with him in mind. He was unable to do that in the preseason/training camp because of injury. I think an offseason with Martz (of course, that’s up in the air), could do their relationship some good.

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2008 10:10 AM PST up reply actions

I wish morgan could stay healthy.

by dodgers_suck on Dec 10, 2008 2:02 PM PST reply actions

Morgan, Hill, Zeigler

Is it just me or is Singletary not afraid to have the rookies show what they can do? It seemed to me that Nolan would draft someone and the guy would sit on the bench for years before he got game time. It was like he was so overly cautious that he was afraid to put in young players.

by Bob In Beaverton on Dec 11, 2008 8:00 AM PST up reply actions

Well.

To be fair, Hill’s career has been riddled with injuries, almost all of which are “nagging” injuries. Morgan seems to be following suit.

As for Zeigler, it’s understandable an undrafted player doesn’t get playtime over a player being paid or drafted to play. Can’t really beat up the coaching staff for that.

Besides, from what I understand, Sullivan (the WR coach) seems to hold the keys for who which receivers play and which don’t. Considering Nolan’s ineptitude on offense, it make sense he would defer that kind of decision on someone who’s been doing it for years.

by sfgfan on Dec 11, 2008 10:13 AM PST up reply actions