"They're talking about putting me at defensive end to rush the passer," Brooks said. "It's not definite, but he said it would be the quickest way to get me on the field."

The 49ers have just 14 sacks in eight games. Brooks auditioned for a role as a third-down pass rusher.

"It gives us a chance to really put players in situations where maybe if it were a regular practice we wouldn't have that time to make those changes and implement certain situations to find out if that player can do this or do that," 49ers interim coach Mike Singletary said.

--Singletary wants a team that will hit people in the mouth, he said. He wants the 49ers to employ a physical style of football. But are the 49ers capable of being a physical team?

"There's no doubt," Singletary said. "Yes, I'm looking at some of the film and some of the plays that our guys are making."

Singletary singled out the play of left guard David Baas, who made his first start of the season before the bye week. "I thought he did a great job," Singletary said. "He was hitting people in the mouth."

--The 49ers expect to have everybody except backup safety Dashon Goldson available for the Monday night game against the Cardinals. Goldson is out a couple more weeks with a knee injury. Tackle Jonas Jennings, who has not played since Sept. 14 due to a shoulder dislocation, is expected to return to practice this week.