SANTA CLARA –- While running back Frank Gore going through the NFL’s concussion protocol on a short week, 49ers backup Carlos Hyde said he does not expect to be available either Saturday night.
“It’ll take a miracle for that to happen,” Hyde told CSN Bay Area’s Mindi Bach on Wednesday. Hyde sustained an ankle sprain and back injury during a third-quarter play in the 49ers’ 17-7 loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
The 49ers return to action on Saturday night at Levi’s Stadium against the San Diego Chargers.
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The 49ers signed running back Phillip Tanner to the team’s 53-man roster on Wednesday. Tanner appeared in 39 games over three seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He has 56 carries for 149 yards and two touchdowns in his NFL career. He has nine receptions for 93 yards.
Most recently, Tanner (5 foot 10, 208 pounds) was on the Buffalo Bills’ roster for three games this season but did not play. He originally signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted rookie in 2011 from Middle Tennessee State.
Alfonso Smith is the only healthy 49ers running back on the roster. Pressed into servicer Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks after Gore and Hyde were injured, Smith carried four times for 6 yards.
To make room on the roster, the 49ers placed tight end Garrett Celek (ankle) on injured reserve. Celek becomes the 49ers’ 15th player to be placed on season-ending injured reserve this season.
