Zeigler will take on an additional role in Sunday's game against the Rams. He will back up veteran Bryant Johnson at split end, and he'll also be the No. 2 man behind Jason Hill as the slot receiver. Zeigler will also have a role when the 49ers go with their four-receiver package.

The 49ers replaced Zeigler on the practice squad with rookie receiver Mark Bradford, who signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.

PLAYER NOTES

--WR Isaac Bruce leads the 49ers with 411 receiving yards on the season. Bruce had 153 yards receiving in a Week 2 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. In the other eight games, Bruce has been a virtual non-factor. He has averaged just 32.3 yards per game in those other games.

--DE Justin Smith has recorded 47 tackles on the season. He leads the league among defensive ends. Smith has been one of the 49ers' better defensive players. He has three sacks, and leads the club with 28 quarterback pressures.

--K Joe Nedney is tied for 47th on the NFL's all-time list with 931 points. Nedney, a 13th-year player, is having a solid season. He has connected on 18 of 20 field-goal attempts. Nedney's career field-goal percentage of 88.2 ranks second in club history behind Jeff Wilkins' 89.4.

--RS Allen Rossum supplied the second-longest kickoff return in 49ers history when he went 104 yards with the opening kickoff Monday night. Rossum ranks second in the NFL with a 28.3 average on 35 kickoff returns.

--LB Takeo Spikes leads the 49ers with three interceptions this season, and he ranks No. 2 on the team behind Patrick Willis with 64 tackles.

GAME PLAN: The offense Mike Martz is running these days might not have much resemblance to the Martz offenses from his days with the St. Louis Rams. Interim coach Mike Singletary wants the 49ers to employ a physical style of football, and that begins with the team's reliance on a running game. Also, with Shaun Hill at quarterback, the 49ers are not able to feature the kind of downfield passing game to which Martz has been associated for many years. The 49ers want to run the ball effectively with Frank Gore. Hill is efficient at getting the ball out quickly to receivers underneath. When J.T. O'Sullivan was at quarterback, he was sacked once every 7.8 times he dropped back to pass. Hill did not get sacked once on 40 pass attempts in his first start Monday night against Arizona. Hill has a nice rapport with receiver Jason Hill. Both players got used to each other from working together on the scout team. In the first extended action of Jason Hill's career, the Hills (no relation) teamed up on seven pass completions for 84 yards. Defensively, the 49ers are preparing to face Steven Jackson, but will shift their focus to Antonio Pittman, if Jackson is unable to play with a thigh injury. The 49ers' pass rush has to find a way to get some hits on quarterback Marc Bulger.

MATCHUPS TO WATCH: 49ers QB Shaun Hill vs. Rams pass defense - Hill will make his second start of the season and face a pass defense that ranks 30th in the league, allowing 237.6 yards per game.

49ers RB Frank Gore vs. Rams LB Pisa Tinoisamoa: Gore ranks third in the NFL with 1,045 yards from scrimmage. Tinoisamoa leads the Rams' defense with 76 tackles.

49ers WR Isaac Bruce vs. Rams CB Fakhir Brown: Bruce has been kept under wraps in eight of the 49ers' nine games this season. Brown is a nine-year veteran who faced Bruce twice a year for four seasons with the Saints before becoming a teammate for two years.

49ers LT Joe Staley vs. Rams DE Chris Long: Staley had his best game of the season in pass protection last week against the Cardinals. Long has been strong against the run and also has four sacks.

49ers CB Nate Clements vs. Rams WR Torry Holt: Clements has been up-and-down this season. Holt is experiencing a down season with just 33 catches for 352 yards and two touchdowns.

49ers FS Mark Roman vs. Rams QB Marc Bulger: Roman has recorded just one interception in 41 career games with the 49ers. Bulger's passer rating is a lowly 73.5 with six TDs and six interceptions.

INJURY IMPACT:

--RB Frank Gore missed his second day of practice with a neck strain. Originally, Gore said Thursday he sustained a concussion and still had a "bad" headache. But later in the day, Gore said he had a neck strain. Niners coach Mike Singletary said team athletic trainer Jeff Ferguson reports that Gore did not sustain a concussion. The 49ers expect Gore to practice on Friday and play in Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams.

--WR Josh Morgan is listed as "week to week" with a groin strain he sustained in Monday night's game against the Arizona Cardinals. With Morgan out of the lineup, veteran Bryant Johnson is expected to start and play most of the game.

--S Mark Roman was added to the injury report with a groin strain. Roman did not practice Thursday, but the club expects him to be available for Sunday's game against the St. Louis Rams.

--S Dashon Goldson (knee) will miss his third consecutive game.

--WR Arnaz Battle (foot) will miss his second straight start with an injury sustained Oct. 26. Battle has a mid-foot sprain.

--OT Barry Sims (ankle) missed Monday night's game. He was expected to take part in practices later in the week and might be available for Sunday's game.

--TE Delanie Walker (shoulder) did not practice early in the week, but he's expected to be healthy enough to play in Sunday's game.

--T Jonas Jennings, who has not seen action since sustaining a dislocated right shoulder on Sept. 14, is no longer on the team's injury report. Jennings did not regain his starting job upon getting healthy. Adam Snyder, who began the season as the starting left guard, has taken over for Jennings as the starter at right tackle.