
SANTA CLARA – Head coach Jim Tomsula said he is optimistic backup running back Reggie Bush will be available for Thursday’s game against the Seattle Seahawks after being inactive for three games this season with a calf strain.
“Right now, (I’m) very optimistic on where Reggie is,” Tomsula said on Monday morning.
Running back Carlos Hyde was clearly hobbled on Sunday after taking part in limited practice due to a foot injury. He left the game briefly in the third quarter and finished with just 55 yards rushing on 21 attempts.
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“His foot is sore,” Tomsula said. “I don’t want to put a medical label on it. It’s sore in there. I guess it’s a bruise. He’s got an orthotic. We’re just managing it with the pounding in practice.”
[MAIOCCO: Hyde on injured foot: 'Didn't make it worse' against Ravens]
Tomsula said Hyde’s injury is not plantar fasciitis, and it’s a condition that can be managed for a while without too much risk of the situation worsening.
On Sunday, rookies Jarryd Hayne and Mike Davis saw limited action while Hyde missed 12 snaps in the 49ers’ 25-20 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.
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“Are they as good as our starter? No, they’re not there, yet,” Tomsula said. “But they are improving. And we like both of them. That’s where it is. Carlos Hyde is a special runner.”
---The 49ers were granted a one-game roster exemption for wide receiver Jerome Simpson, who became eligible Monday to return from the reserve/suspended list. The NFL suspended Simpson six games for violations of the league’s policy on substances of abuses from an office that predated his offseason signing with the 49ers. The 49ers can clear a spot to activate Simpson to the 53-man roster at any point during the exemption.
---Safety Eric Reid, who sustained an injury to his ribs on the final play of the game, does not have any fractures, Tomsula said.
---Linebacker NaVorro Bowman played all 77 snaps in Sunday’s game. It was the fourth consecutive game in which Bowman has played more than 70 snaps.
“We are in the process of addressing his rep counts in games,” Tomsula said. “I realize they’re high. That’s something I look at on every player. And they’re high. We got to get some of those reps down on him.”
---There is no controversy at tight end, Tomsula said. Vernon Davis, despite not starting Sunday, is still the starter. On Sunday, Garrett Celek got the starting assignment and played more snaps than Davis.
“Vernon is coming off a leg, and obviously we want to make sure we monitor that,” he said.