The good news for the 49ers is that, despite a crappy 4-7 record, a 27-6 win over the Cardinals has put them only one game out of first place in the NFC West. The bad news is that the Niners will continue their quest for fool’s gold without the cornerstone of their offense.
Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reports -- and we have confirmed -- that running back Frank Gore will miss the rest of the season with a hip injury suffered on Monday night.
Gore was running hard early, but he made a walk in the first quarter to the locker room with a trainer. He returned in full gear, returning briefly but then exiting and not returning.
The injury opened the door for former Eagles workhorse Brian Westbrook. After getting only five carries in 10 games, Westbrook ran the ball 23 times for 136 yards and a touchdown on Monday night, averaging 5.9 yards per carry.
