The 49ers are heading east and released their final injury report for their week 9 encounter with the Washington Redskins.

No Niners player has been ruled out for the game but LE Ray McDonald’s status is doubtful due to a hamstring injury. The defensive lineman did not practice all week. McDonald has 10 tackles and 3 sacks in 7 starts this season. In his absence DE Demarcus Dobbs and DT Ricky Jean Francois would likely see an increased amount of snaps.

FB Moran Norris’ (fibula) status has been upgraded from doubtful to questionable but FB Bruce Miller will likely get another start. RB Frank Gore is rushing for 113.8 yards per game and scored 4 touchdowns since Miller became his lead blocker in week 3.

WR Michael Crabtree (foot), CB Chris Culliver (shoulder), WR Braylon Edwards (knee) and FS Dashon Goldson (knee) were limited participants in practice all week and are listed as probable. The same applies to CB Tramaine Brock (hand) and CB Shawntae Spencer (toe) who were full participants in practice.

The Washington Redskins will be without WR Santana Moss (hand) and newly acquired RB Tashard Choice (hamstring). TE Fred Davis (ankle), LT Trent Williams (ankle) and FS Oshiomogho Atogwe (toe, knee) are listed as questionable. ILB London Fletcher (hamstring) and ILB Rocky McIntosh (ankle) are listed as probable.

It is week 5 of the 2011 season and San Francisco’s injury list is growing. WR Braylon Edwards (knee) and FB Moran Norris (fibula) are still ruled out. Both are going to miss their third consecutive game. They will be joined by CB Tramaine Brock, whose hand injury will keep him sidelined against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tramaine Brock has 4 tackles in 4 games this season. He and CB Carlos Rogers lead the team with 2 interceptions each.

CB Shawntae Spencer (toe) didn’t practice Wednesday and Thursday but was a limited participant in practice on Friday. This makes his status questionable for Sunday. Spencer only made 3 tackles so far this season.

This situation requires rookie CB Chris Culliver to step up and we should get a better look at his potential. He is only one of three healthy cornerbacks for Sunday, together with Carlos Rogers and Tarell Brown. Culliver recorded 4 tackles in 4 games and has shown that he can cover.

NT Isaac Sopoaga didn’t practice all week because of a staph infection and is listed as doubtful. There is no word on what precautions the 49ers took but the sensible thing is to rest Sopoaga as the disease is contagious. Sopoaga’s 6 tackles in 4 games may not sound spectacular but he is an integral part of the league’s 4^th best run defense, which allows 74.0 yards per game.

If Sopoaga is unable to play Ricky Jean Francois will get the start at the nose tackle position. Francois made 1 tackle in 4 games. DeMarcus Dobbs or Ian Williams would be activated as Francois’ backup.

WR Michael Crabtree (foot), RB Frank Gore (ankle), LG Mike Iupati (neck) and RG Adam Snyder (hamstring) are all listed as probable and ready to play.

Earlier this week Michael Crabtree moved past WR Ted Ginn Jr. on the depth chart and is expected to start alongside Josh Morgan. Crabtree is still without a touchdown this season but he caught 5 passes for 68 yards last week.

Frank Gore is recovering from his ankle injury and had a great game at the Philadelphia Eagles, when he ran for 127 yards and 1 touchdown. He will share time with Kendall Hunter but I expect him to get the majority of the carries, especially as the game wears on.

Adam Snyder won the starting job at right guard last week and there is no doubt in my mind that he will start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, too, as he was a full participant in Friday’s practice.

The San Francisco 49ers trimmed their roster to the required 53 men. Most moves were expected but some were surprising. In a conference call with the media head coach Jim Harbaugh gives his view on it.

Harbaugh on quarterback situation

By releasing Josh McCown and McLeod Bethel-Thompson the 49ers currently have two quarterbacks on their roster. “We feel confident in Colin [Kaepernick],” Harbaugh said, but it doesn’t preclude the franchise from doing anything that helps the football team, including going after a young quarterback. Asked whether there will be a third quarterback before the regular season starts, Harbaugh replied that he anticipates that there will be one in the building, practice squad or other. The head coach didn’t explain why he cut Josh McCown, but said it’s possible that he’s available if the 49ers need a third quarterback.

Harbaugh on backup running back situation

“I think that’s an ongoing decision, who’s playing better. And there will be a rotation. All three of those backs will play. Right now, Kendall Hunter is ahead on the depth chart.”

Harbaugh on tight ends

It is a possibility to add a third tight end but Jim Harbaugh also acknowledged that Bruce Miller can do some of the things a third tight end can do. “Yes, he can, as well as play on special teams. He’s definitely going to be a swing guy in that regard.”

Harbaugh on keeping seven defensive linemen

“Demarcus Dobbs and Ian Williams, we felt, earned a spot. We feel they have a good upside. That’s a tough position to find in the National Football League, those big bodies. We were pleased.”

Harbaugh on special teams

Jim Harbaugh expects C.J. Spillman, Blake Costanzo and Colin Jones to be on all special teams units. “In the National Football League, you have to win two of three phases to win a game. We want to be strong on special teams. And that’s a sign that we want to be strong on special team.”

Houston Texans’ 30-7 win over the San Francisco 49ers showed why the reign of the Indianapolis Colts in the AFC South could come to an end, but it also showed that the 49ers still have a lot of work to do before the regular season kicks off on 11 September against division rival Seattle Seahawks.

The game could not have started better for the Niners. On the first play of the game from scrimmage OLB Ahmad Brooks intercepted a pass from Matt Schaub and carried it back 13 yards for a touchdown. These 7 points however remained San Francisco’s only points of the game.

The Texans scored on each of their next 3 drives and returned an interception for a touchdown to make it 24-7 at half time. Houston controlled the clock in the second half and scored two field goals for a final score of 30-7, and a third win in three preseason games.

To put Houston’s dominance into perspective, they had the ball for 40:36 minutes, picked up 28 first downs, compared to San Francisco’s 6, and outgained the 49ers 417 yards to 105 yards. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow, when you’re beaten that thoroughly in pretty much all phases”, said Jim Harbaugh. “We’re not going to have any loser talk or hang our heads. If you’re waiting for that, you’re not going to get it. We’re going to keep our heads up.”

Although the numbers may imply otherwise, the defense had its outstanding moments. Ahmad Brooks recorded an interception for a touchdown and S Madieu Williams and LB Larry Grant forced two fumbles that were recovered by DT Ricky Jean Francois and safety C.J. Spillman. DE Demarcus Dobbs sacked Matt Leinert in the 4^th quarter for a loss of 11 yards.

San Francisco’s offense was held to 50 yards passing and 55 yards on the ground. Alex Smith finished 2 of 6 for 17 yards and 1 interception. He got sacked twice for a loss of 13 yards and had a passer rating of 2.8 for the game. Colin Kaepernick completed 6 of 16 pass attempts for 52 yards and 1 interception. He allowed 1 sack for a loss of 6 yards and finished with a QB rating of 20.8.

“We put ourselves in third downs and couldn’t convert.” said Smith. The 49ers converted 20% of their third downs compared to 60% for the Texans. “I don’t want to rush into conclusions or judgements.” Smith added. “Obviously there’s room for improvement from all of us. We’ll see what the film says.”

Running back Frank Gore, who is going to meet with the front office tomorrow to continue negotiating a new deal, didn’t play at all. Jim Harbaugh said it was because he [Harbaugh] wanted to see who is going to be the number two on the depth chart. Anthony Dixon rushed for 15 yards on 8 carries. Kendall Hunter had the same amount of carries but managed to rush for 40 yards.

The game against the Texans was a good test, as Houston is a very good team on both sides of the ball, but I must wonder if this game didn’t put the Niners back to square one.