"There may be a couple of changes to a struggling 49ers running game that ranks 29th in the league after three weeks, but coach Jim Harbaugh on Monday indicated that the starting tailback would not be one of them. "In my mind right now, Frank is good to go," Harbaugh said of starter Frank Gore.

Gore injured his ankle in the second quarter of Sunday's 13-8 win over the Bengals, and he mostly watched as backup, Kendall Hunter, took part in a fourth-quarter touchdown drive, the only one of the game for either team. Gore, however, was not in an orthopedic boot on Monday, Harbaugh said. Harbaugh also referred to Hunter as "the backup tailback."

"... In spot play, he graded out very well," Harbaugh said of Hunter. "Made some very good, tough runs, including the touchdown run.""