The San Francisco 49ers released their final injury report for the last game of the regular season at the St. Louis Rams. Compared to last week a few more names have been added to the list:

TE Delanie Walker (jaw) has been ruled out for the season finale. In a week we should know whether he could be available in the playoffs or if his season is over. TE Justin Peele will replace him as the number two tight end.

WR Kyle Williams sustained a concussion in last week’s game at the Seattle Seahawks and is listed as questionable. He is likely going to sit out the game at the St. Louis Rams. WR Brett Swain is expected to replace him and to start alongside WR Michael Crabtree.

WR Ted Ginn Jr. did not practice all week and is likely going to miss his second consecutive game with an ankle injury. With Kyle Williams questionable as well, S Reggie Smith is expected to return punts and RB Kendall Hunter will be responsible for returning kick-offs.

CB Chris Culliver is listed as questionable with a shoulder injury but is expected to play. CB Tramaine Brock and CB Shawntae Spencer would see more playing time if Culliver couldn’t go.

This is the third consecutive week where FB Bruce Miller is listed as questionable due to a knee injury. He played on both occasions and is expected to start tomorrow as well.

CB Carlos Rogers is suffering from a knee injury and his status for Sunday is questionable. He is not expected to miss the game and will likely start.

RILB Patrick Willis missed the last three games with a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio mentioned earlier this week that Willis would play if he felt up to it. LB Larry Grant replaced Willis superbly during his absence but Willis should see a few snaps to shed off some rust before the playoffs.

St. Louis’ QB Sam Bradford (ankle) and QB A.J. Feeley (thumb) did not practice all week and are doubtful for the game against the 49ers. QB Kellen Clemens is slated for a third consecutive start. DE Chris Long is listed as questionable with an ankle injury but has yet to miss a game this season. The same injury did not keep him out of the game four weeks ago and he ended up sacking QB Alex Smith twice. LB Brady Poppinga (illness) and CB Josh Gordy (abdomen) are listed as probable and expected to play.

Free agency will be an extremely important part of this offseason. The brief lockout prior to the 2011 season affected each team and had an impact on roster decisions. As a consequence, teams signed a lot of players to one-year contracts. With more time available during this offseason teams have to make decisions on whether to re-sign these players to a long-term contract or if they prefer to browse the free agent market for positional improvements. This is an early attempt to look at San Francisco’s 21 free agents and evaluate their status.

OT Alex Boone (24)

Boone is an Exclusive Rights Free Agent (ERFA) at the end of the season, which means the 49ers can make him an offer at the three-year veteran minimum salary and he either takes it or leaves the NFL. This would increase his salary from $ 405,000 to $ 656,000 per season. Head coach Jim Harbaugh often mentioned that the offensive line consists of seven interchangeable players. Alex Boone is the number seven and should expect to receive an offer.

CB Tramaine Brock (23)

Like Alex Boone, Tramaine Brock is an ERFA at the end of this season. He missed three games with a hand injury this season and recorded 4 tackles and 2 interceptions as Carlos Rogers’ backup. He’s also part of special teams. There is little risk in offering him another year.

LOLB Ahmad Brooks (27)

Brooks is a starter and plays nearly every snap. This is his best season by far and he is on pace for 34 solo tackles and 8 sacks. He is part of one of the best linebacker corps in the league and has mentioned his desire to stay in San Francisco. Mario Williams (HOU) and Anthony Spencer (DAL) are the only players who could potentially be an upgrade at this position but Williams will break the bank in the offseason and Brooks is currently better than Spencer. The 49ers and Ahmad Brooks should agree to a contract extension in the offseason.

LB Blake Costanzo (27)

The linebacker is an important part of one of the best special team units the NFL has to offer. If the Niners and Costanzo are happy with this arrangement then they should definitely re-sign him.

WR Braylon Edwards (28)

The wide receiver came to the 49ers to resurrect his career but hasn’t impressed so far. In fact, he is still waiting for his first touchdown in a 49ers uniform. Granted, Edwards missed four games with a knee injury and suffers from an ailing shoulder now but maybe therein lies the problem. Even when he’s healthy he just doesn’t seem to click with QB Alex Smith the way the other receivers do. He won’t come cheap either, considering that his one-year contract is heavily incentive-laden. The 49ers could look into DeSean Jackson (PHI) if they are willing to spend big money, however, Michael Crabtree is finally emerging as a true number one receiver. My personal favorite is Dwayne Bowe (KC) who has all the skills a receiver needs. Other potential targets among the top free agents are Brandon Lloyd (STL) and Robert Meachem (NO), though I suspect the 49ers would have to open up the passing game to make the latter a good fit. If the 49ers have faith in Crabtree as their number one then they could turn their attention to FS Dashon Goldson’s sparring partner Early Doucet (ARZ), Andre Caldwell (CIN), Pierre Garcon (IND) or Deion Branch (NE), provided QB Tom Brady would allow him go.

WR Ted Ginn Jr. (26)

Ted Ginn Jr.’s main job is to return kick-offs and punts but he has also seen extended playing time due to Braylon Edward’s and Josh Morgan’s injuries. Ginn Jr. averages 28.6 yards per kick return, which ranks him 3^rd among kick returners, 11.4 yards per punt return (7^th) and caught 12 passes for 136 yards. Ted Ginn Jr. is one of the best returners in the league and part of a young and talented receiver corps. Both sides should agree to a contract extension.

FS Dashon Goldson (27)

The hard-hitting safety has 40 solo tackles and 3 interceptions on the season. His play is inspirational but he has to become a lot more disciplined. He got ejected after throwing punches at Arizona Cardinals’ Early Doucet and cost the team several 15-yard penalties throughout the season. There aren’t going to be any better free safeties available in free agency, i.e. Goldson should be kept unless his demands are unrealistic.

To be continued ...

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.

The bye week is over and it’s back to business for the San Francisco 49ers. The team released their final injury report for the game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

FB Moran Norris’ (fibula) as well as CB Tramaine Brock’s (hand) status has been upgraded to doubtful. I don’t expect either of them to play, though the 49ers only have two healthy cornerbacks available.

In Norris’ absence RB Frank Gore rushed for 108.8 yards per game, 6.5 yards per carry and scored 3 touchdowns. The 49ers are in no rush to bring back Norris before he is completely healthy and frankly, FB Bruce Miller earned his spot on top of the depth chart.

WR Braylon Edward’s (knee) status for the game is questionable. The Browns have the best pass defense in the league, allowing just 171.5 yards per game, and the 49ers need a big-play receiver against this secondary. The Browns are the team that drafted Braylon Edwards in the first round of the 2005 draft. I expect Edwards to play but not to start. Head coach Jim Harbaugh will likely ease him back into the lineup.

WR Michael Crabtree (foot), CB Chris Culliver (shoulder) and C Jonathan Goodwin (concussion) were limited participants in practice throughout the week and are listed as probable. The same applies to CB Shawntae Spencer (toe), ROLB Parys Haralson (hamstring) and RG Adam Snyder who were full participants in practice all week.

The Cleveland Browns ruled out WR Mohamed Massaquoi (head). The receiver has 18 catches for 239 yards and 2 touchdowns in 6 games. TE Benjamin Watson’s status is questionable due to a head injury but he should see some action. Watson has 20 receptions for 213 yards and 2 touchdowns. It appears likely that the Browns will be without RB Peyton Hillis (hamstring). Hillis played in 4 games this season, rushing for 211 yards on 60 carries and 2 touchdowns. RB Montario Hardesty would start in his place. Also questionable are CB Joe Haden (knee), G Shawn Lauvao (knee) and T Tony Pashos (ankle).

The San Francisco 49ers released their final injury report for the game against the unbeaten Detroit Lions. The list is even longer than last week’s but most players on the report will probably play, “probably” being the operative word.

Let’s start with the players who are ruled out. WR Braylon Edwards (knee) and FB Moran Norris (fibula) hope to return after next week’s bye. CB Tramaine Brock (hand) underwent surgery and is out indefinitely.

LG Mike Iupati (knee), CB Shawntae Spencer (toe), NT Isaac Sopoaga (staph infection), LILB NaVorro Bowman (neck), WR Michael Crabtree (foot), FS Dashon Goldson (knee), RG Adam Snyder (forearm) and WR Ted Ginn Jr. (finger) are all listed as probable.

NaVorro Bowman and Ted Ginn Jr. were full participants in training and it’s safe to say that they will start on Sunday. The 49ers cannot afford to replace another wide receiver, considering that they placed WR Josh Morgan on IR this week. Ted Ginn Jr. will start alongside Michael Crabtree.

San Francisco’s offensive line will face its biggest challenge so far. Adam Snyder and Mike Iupati were limited in practice throughout the week but are ready to go and ready to start.

Shawntae Spencer was a limited participant in practice but his status was upgraded from questionable to probable. Head coach Jim Harbaugh did not reveal whether Spencer would be the No. 3 cornerback against the Lions but CB Chris Culliver spent most of the time in practice with the scout team, which may indicate that Shawntae Spencer is going to be the No.3 cornerback on Sunday.

Detroit’s OLB Justin Durant will miss a third straight game because of a concussion. FB Tony Scheffler will also be out this Sunday with a concussion. SS Amari Spievey suffers from a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable. DE Cliff Avril (elbow), MLB Stephen Tulloch (ankle), OLB DeAndre Levy (knee) and FS Louis Delmas (abdomen) are all listed as probable.             

If you were watching Sunday’s 48-3 rout of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers you probably expected big performances from the usual suspects. RB Frank Gore ran for 125 yards and 1 touchdown, TE Vernon Davis caught 2 touchdown passes, RILB Patrick Willis had 12 tackles and a fumble recovery and DE Justin Smith recorded 1 sack. But the Niners got contributions from a number of players, especially their rookies.         

San Francisco’s first-round draft pick OLB Aldon Smith isn’t a starter yet but it only seems to be a matter of time for this to happen. He had 2 second-half sacks against Tampa Bay, which gives him 3.5 sacks in his last two games. He leads the team with 4 sacks. It’s early in the season but I have already seen his name appear in Defensive Rookie of the Year discussions.

QB Colin Kaepernick was drafted in the second round and came late into the game for one drive in the fourth quarter. He lead the offense 90 yards downfield for a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Anthony Dixon and completed each of his 3 pass attempts for a total of 35 yards and a passer rating of 115.3.

CB Chris Culliver, San Francisco’s third-rounder, was only one of three healthy cornerbacks on Sunday, when Tramaine Brock (hand) was ruled out and Shawntae Spencer’s status was questionable due to a toe injury. Culliver had to play a bigger role and he did just that. His first career interception, which he returned for 23 yards, set up Frank Gore’s touchdown for a 21-3 lead.

The 49ers chose RB Kendall Hunter in the fourth round of this year’s draft but nobody could possibly have anticipated back then that he is getting a considerable amount of carries in his first year. On Sunday Hunter ran for 65 yards on 9 carries and helped setting up Anthony Dixon’s touchdown late in the fourth quarter. In 5 games Kendall Hunter has rushed for 133 yards, an average of 4.6 yards per carry, and 1 touchdown.

DB Colin Jones was taken in the sixth round. He was promoted to the 53-man roster last week when the 49ers had to place DE Will Tukuafu on IR. San Francisco is deep at the safety positions but he is part of one of the best special teams units in the NFL.

The only rookie who started on Sunday was seventh-round pick FB Bruce Miller, who replaced the injured Moran Norris. Miller doesn’t have the statistics to show for but Frank Gore will be the first to admit that Miller’s blocking helped him to run for over 100 yards in each of his last two games.

A while ago I predicted that San Francisco’s future looks bright. It seems like the future is already here.