Running back Frank Gore is expected to miss the next three weeks after an MRI showed Gore is suffering from both a right ankle strain and a right hind foot sprain. Under that scenario, Gore would miss Sunday's game against the Rams and the following game against Atlanta. The 49ers have a bye on Oct. 18. Gore entered Sunday's game against Minnesota after spraining his right ankle a week earlier against Seattle. Sprains involve ligaments while strains -- the latest injury -- involve muscles and tendons. Gore was walking in a protective boot Monday.
This marks the third time in as many years Gore will have missed a game because of an ankle injury. He missed one game in 2007 with a right ankle sprain and two games last season with a left ankle sprain. Rookie Glen Coffee will start in Gore's place, and there's a chance that another rookie, Kory Sheets, will be elevated from the practice squad
MRI results for left tackle Joe Staley showed a right quad contusion. He is listed as day-to-day. The results for safety Reggie Smith showed a right groin strain. He will be re-evaluated in two weeks.
-- Matt Barrows
