BEREA: Peyton Hillis, the Browns’ No. 1 running back, got married in Arkansas this week and hasn’t practiced for the past two days because of his pulled hamstring.
Frank Gore, the San Francisco 49ers’ top tailback, is coming off a bye and needs 110 yards to move into second place on the franchise’s all-time rushing list.
The running attacks of the Browns and the 49ers — and the situation surrounding each team’s feature back — contrast, to say the least. The differences could become even more apparent Sunday, when the Browns (3-3) visit the 49ers (5-1) at Candlestick Park.
Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Hillis would travel with the team. Still, he might not face the 49ers.
Hillis pulled his left hamstring Oct. 16 against the Oakland Raiders and was inactive last Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks. He returned to practice Wednesday, though he aggravated the injury and is now listed as questionable on the team’s injury report.
If Hillis is inactive for the second consecutive week and the third time this season, Montario Hardesty would start at running back and share playing time with Chris Ogbonnaya. The Browns, whose offense is ranked 29th in the NFL in rushing (91.2 yards per game), are 2-0 this season without Hillis.
Adding a twist to what has become a dramatic year for the Madden NFL 12 cover boy, Hillis married Amanda Brown of Oklahoma on Tuesday in Northwest Arkansas, ArkansasSports360.com reported. A couple of Hillis’ teammates confirmed the report Friday. Hillis declined to reveal whether he was engaged when asked by local media about a month ago.
Meanwhile, Gore and the 49ers’ sixth-ranked rushing offense (131.5 yards per game) are looking to finish this month in style. They lead the league with 193.3 rushing yards a game in October. Gore has run for at least 125 yards in each of his past three games, and he’s on the verge of surpassing Roger Craig’s 7,064 career rushing yards.
The 49ers are “committed to the power running game,” linebacker Scott Fujita said. “I’ve always had so much respect for Frank Gore. I think he’s a great back. He’s really good and shifty between the tackles. He’s got a good burst.”
The 5-foot-9, 217-pound Gore has 109 carries for 541 yards (5.0 average) and four touchdowns this season. He has rushed for a first down during all four of his attempts on third-and-1.
“He has a very low center of gravity,” Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron said. “He keeps his pads down, not a lot of surface to hit. He’s got great balance. [He’s] very tough.”
The Browns’ defense is ranked fourth — first against the pass (171.5 yards per game) and 20th against the run (119.5 yards per game).
“They look real good,” Gore said. “That front seven is playing good ball. They’re really disciplined.”
Even if Hillis plays, establishing a solid ground game is not expected to be easy for the Browns. The 49ers’ 3-4 defense is ranked second against the run (74.7 yards per game). Inside linebackers NaVorro Bowman and Patrick Willis lead the team with 68 and 65 tackles, respectively.
“I think they’re a pretty darn good tandem,” Shurmur said. “They can play sideline to sideline, and they can play downhill when you run right at them.”
Other injury updates
Tight end Benjamin Watson returned to practice Friday after missing the previous two days while recovering from a concussion suffered against the Seahawks. Watson received reps with the first-team offense and is questionable.
Watson was on the field for one play in the third quarter, but he missed the rest of the second half. He said he experienced “fogginess” and was removed from the game once he reported his symptoms to the trainers.
“The long-term effects, I think, people are starting to think about those things,” Watson said. “There’s been more research about stuff like that. I think our training staff did a good job of letting guys know the information. At the end of the day as a player, you have to be honest with yourself. ‘Are you OK? Do you need to get checked out?’ ”
Wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi, who also suffered a concussion against the Seahawks, and defensive end Auston English, who hurt his knee during practice Thursday, have been ruled out for Sunday. Josh Cribbs will replace Massaquoi in the starting lineup, Shurmur said.
In addition to Hillis and Watson, cornerback Joe Haden (knee), right guard Shawn Lauvao (knee), linebacker Kaluka Maiava (knee), right tackle Tony Pashos (ankle) and safety Ray Ventrone (hamstring) are questionable. Kicker Phil Dawson (bruised right thigh), offensive lineman Artis Hicks (back), cornerback Buster Skrine (hip) and Fujita (concussion) are probable.
Fiery 49ers coach
Rookie fullback Owen Marecic played for 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh when the two were at Stanford. Before one of their games, Harbaugh shoved a couple of players, including Marecic, to get them fired up before they ran onto the field. Harbaugh slipped and fell during the shoving match, bounced back up, pushed Marecic again, pumped his fist and charged the field.
So Marecic was not shocked when he saw Harbaugh’s enthusiastic postgame handshake with Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz a couple of weeks ago. Of course, the handshake quickly escalated into an infamous altercation.
“It’s not surprising,” Marecic said. “He’s just a very energetic guy. He loves winning. He’s very passionate about the game. I don’t know exactly what happened. He does not try to hide his enthusiasm. He was excited about getting a win.”
Daunting task
Left tackle Joe Thomas will line up across from two tough defenders Sunday.
49ers defensive end Justin Smith has 4½ sacks and 30 quarterback hits this season.
“He’s big, he’s fast and he’s physical,” Thomas said. “He plays with a relentless motor. He’s a guy that’s going to be really hard to block.”
49ers rookie outside linebacker Aldon Smith often enters the game in pass-rushing situations. He has 5½ sacks and 16 quarterback hits this season.
“He’s a guy that makes the most out of every rush he gets,” Thomas said. “He’s somebody you’ve gotta account for every single play, or he’s gonna make you pay.”
Golden opportunity
Wide receiver Carlton Mitchell, who has been inactive for all but one game this season, practiced with the first-team offense Friday and is expected to play against the 49ers.
Mitchell said he purchased a JUGS passing machine and has used it to practice catching footballs just about everywhere. He hopes his dedication pays off on game day.
“I love that thing,” Mitchell said. “It’s probably the best investment I’ve ever had. I take it and I’ll be in the hallway of the condo shooting JUGS or in the parking garage. I got caught a couple of times. I took it to the gym. It helped a lot. Caught about 1,000 balls a day.”
Brownies
49ers wide receiver Braylon Edwards, whom the Browns drafted third overall in 2005, is questionable with a knee injury and is expected to be a game-time decision. … The NFL fined Seahawks defensive end Red Bryant $15,000 for head-butting Browns tight end Alex Smith late in the fourth quarter. Bryant was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct and ejected.
Nate Ulrich can be reached at nulrich@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Browns blog at http://browns.ohio.com. Follow the Browns on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/browns.abj.
