The 49ers have put left tackle Jonas Jennings on injured reserve, effectively ending his season. Jennings will have surgery on on his ankle. He suffered a high-ankle sprain in the team's loss to the Giants two weeks ago. Mike Nolan did not know the exact nature of the procedure but said it was to clean out "loose bodies" in the ankle.
Rumors have swirled around Jennings since he look a brief leave of absence from the team for a "private matter." When asked if the big tackle still figured into the 49ers' plans, Nolan said, "Sure, all of the players on our team are."
Adam Snyder will start at left tackle and Kwame Harris will back him up. First-round draft pick Joe Staley also will figure into the mix in coming seasons, but for now, Nolan said, Staley will remain on the right side. The team also has discussed bringing back Patrick Estes, who was cut early in the season.
In other news, Nolan said the team was expecting to have Frank Gore (ankle) back this week. The prognosis on guard Justin Smiley -- dislocated shoulder -- is up in the air. Smiley walked into team headquarters today with a black sling on his right shoulder.
-- Matt Barrows
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