Forecast: Thunder and Lightning?

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For a guy who barely used them all year, Niners head coach Mike Singletary sure likes the one-two punch of Brian Westbrook and Anthony Dixon, now that Frank Gore is no longer an option at running back.

"Yes, kind of 'thunder and lightning.'" Singletary said Wednesday. "You know, that's been used a lot through the years with running backs but with both those guys it literally is applicable."

It hasn't been used before by Singletary, who rode Gore for more than a third of the offensive production. He's made it clear he is a one-back type of guy, and it didn't matter who the backup was.

Gore's season-ending hip fracture will change that. Westbrook's 31-year-old body has a lot of wear and tear, from his surgically repaired ankle to his often-concussed brain.

The 49ers risk too much handing him the ball 23 times as they did Monday at Arizona, the fourth-most carries in his career. That's why Singletary will go with a two-back system, with rookie running back Anthony Dixon packing the thunder that comes after Westbrook's lightning.

The only problem is that Dixon is built for thunder but, from the way he dances in the backfield, thinks he's lightning. Singletary's been trying to teach him otherwise since the day he got here.

"You know what, he's got great feet and, you know, that's something for him that, a lot of people would say is a negative thing because he has such great feet he can continue to try and fill the hole," Singletary said. "But I think for what we want to, what we want him to do is be a little more disciplined toward hitting the hole and hitting it now and if it's not there then try and make it there; try and make one there. I just think that he's still learning what his style is going to be, but I'm very excited about the possibilities there."

Speaking of Gore ...

** It's hard to get a long-term feel for the severity of Gore's injury, and if this will have an career-long impact.

On Wednesday, Singletary said the fracture is smaller than they first thought and that it won't require surgery -- which is huge.

"So that's a wonderful thing and I think, you know, we will wait a few weeks and check it again and see how the progression is and just kind of go from there," Singletary said. "But he should be fine."

** Kicker Joe Nedney said he's good to go Sunday at Green Bay after missing two games with a knee injury to his right non-kicking leg.

He did well enough in a kicking workout Monday to convince the 49ers to release replacement kicker Shane Andrus. They have yet to fill his spot on the 53-man roster.

** Speaking of rosters, the 49ers signed three players to their practice squad: running back Xavier Omon, guard Nick Howell and receiver Bakari Grant, an undrafted UC-Davis rookie who spent training camp with the 49ers.

** No update yet on the status of center David Baas, who said his second concussion of the year is less severe than the one he got in training camp.

If Baas isn't cleared to play, then Tony Wragge will get the start with Adam Snyder as an absolute-emergency backup.

(Update: Baas did not practice Wednesday. Others who sat out were Westbrook (ankle), Nedney (knee), CB Shawntae Spencer (quad), CB Will James (concussion) and OLB Parys Haralson (ankle).

Nedney and Westbrook are getting the veteran treatment on a short week. Both are expected to play.

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Posted By: David White (Email, Twitter) | December 01 2010 at 03:48 PM