Gore, who's fifth in the NFL with 1,345 total yards from scrimmage, still hopes to be in the lineup when the 49ers (5-8) go for their fourth win in five games against the Miami Dolphins.

He was injured in last week's win over the New York Jets when a pile of players fell on his leg while he strained for a first down. He was on crutches until Tuesday.

Gore, a Coral Gables, Fla., native who played at the University of Miami, has been looking forward to the trip for months, arranging tickets for dozens of friends and relatives.

"It's very frustrating, not just because we're going there, but because we're playing a game, period," Gore said. "I want to be out there with my teammates. These last few weeks have been going pretty good. I feel that we're on a roll. Going down there and playing a Miami team who's got a chance to go to the playoffs, I want to be a part of that when we beat them."

Gore is 11th in the league with 978 yards rushing and six touchdowns, just shy of his third consecutive 1,000-yard season. Though his college career with the Hurricanes was marred by several major injuries, he has missed just three games in nearly four seasons with the 49ers.

If Gore can't play, DeShaun Foster is likely to start for the 49ers. Foster, a starter for the Carolina Panthers during the past two seasons, has just 78 yards rushing on 37 carries this year as Gore's backup.

Receiver Arnaz Battle (foot) also missed his second straight day of practice Thursday, but center Eric Heitmann and cornerback Marcus Hudson returned to workouts after missing Wednesday with injuries.