Friday in Hawkville
A recap of the day’s events:
FOCUS ON
Lofa Tatupu. The team’s middle linebacker was back, sort of. Tatupu was in uniform at practice, but he also was very limited after sitting out the previous two days to rest a sore hamstring.
Coach Jim Mora is anticipating that Tatupu will play in Sunday’s game against the 49ers in San Francisco, but Tatupu is listed as questionable on the official injury report.
“Knowing Lofa, I expect him to play,” Mora said. “But we’ll wait and see how he feels Sunday.”
Asked whether he expects to play, Tatupu deferred, saying he didn’t want to get into that.
But the team definitely needs him to play, and not just because the defense will be facing old nemesis Frank Gore.
“What separates Lofa is that he is so detailed,” defensive coordinator Gus Bradley said. “He loves the game and talks the game all the time. When you get a guy like that playing linebacker for you, you can put a lot of weight on his shoulders. And we have.
“It’s gone from where maybe he didn’t make a lot of checks or adjustments in the past, to now it’s on him. That’s great, because of his detail and how much he loves the game.”
POSITION WATCH
Defensive tackle. Red Bryant was not active for last week’s game against the St. Louis Rams because the coaches anticipated needing more pass-rush help. But the second-year tackle will be active against the 49ers.
“This could be one of those games that’s perfect for a guy built like that,” Mora said of the 6-foot-4, 318-pound Bryant. “They’re a team that tries to pound the football at you and power you, so Red will be active this week.”
Another fact is that starter Brandon Mebane has not practiced since straining a calf muscle Wednesday. He is listed as questionable. If he can’t go – and even if he can – Craig Terrill likely will get more snaps than he did in the opener and Bryant also will work in the rotation.
GAME BALLS
Mora passed out game balls after practice from last week’s win over the St. Louis Rams: Tight end John Carlson (offense), cornerback Josh Wilson (defense) and linebacker Lance Laury (special teams).
Carlson had two touchdown receptions, Wilson had a team-high five tackles and broke up three passes and Laury forced a fumble on the opening kickoff.
INJURY REPORT
The official injury report, as released by the team:
Out
» LB Leroy Hill (groin)
Questionable
» WR Deion Branch (hamstring)
» CB Travis Fisher (hamstring)
» OT Walter Jones (knee)
» DT Brandon Mebane (calf)
» C Chris Spencer (quadriceps)
» MLB Lofa Tatupu (hamstring)
Probable
» WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh (back)
» S C.J. Wallace (rib)
“The encouraging thing is that everybody did some work,” Mora said. “It’s been quite a while since most of the guys have worked. So that was a good thing for us this week.”
Mora was asked what he needed to see from Jones to know he is ready and he offered, “I think it’s hear from Walter. Really. Walter just needs to feel good about himself and where he is physically and conditioning-wise and then just let us know.
“When he’s ready to go, we’ll get him in there. If it’s Sunday, it’s Sunday. If it’s next Sunday or the following Sunday, we’ve got respect Walter and how he feels about his body. … We’ve got to make the right decision there. We can’t be greedy.”
ON TAP
The players will hold a walkthrough Saturday before flying to San Francisco for Sunday’s game.
Tuesday, wide receiver Nate Burleson will sign autographs at the Qwest Field Pro Shop from 6-7 p.m.
YOU DON’T SAY
“I don’t think any football game is ugly. I liked the way they played. They played good defense and they ground it out. And when they had to come up with a play to win it, they came up with a play to win it. It was like good football to me. I’m not necessarily a run-and-shoot guy. I’m a defensive guy. So I kind of liked it.” – Mora, when asked if he expected another ugly game after the way the 49ers played in upsetting the Arizona Cardinals last week