49ers notes: Davis has gone from doghouse to captaincy

<p>SANTA CLARA — Responding to some taunts from Seattle safety Brian Russell during a midseason game last year, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis gave the veteran a shove to the facemask.</p><p>A penalty flag came out for unnecessary roughness, and nothing has ever been the same.</p><p>Mike Singletary, in his first game as 49ers coach after taking over for fired Mike Nolan, did not appreciate how Davis responded to the coach's sideline authority.</p><p>He banished Davis to the locker room for the remainder of the fourth quarter.</p><p>It could have been the end of Davis with the 49ers. But when the 49ers play the Seahawks again on Sunday at Candlestick Park, Davis will be wearing a “C” on his uniform as one of the team's six captains.</p><p>Although Russell is now with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Davis figures there will be plenty of Seahawks players ready to pick up the slack.</p><p>“I'm sure they're going to try to do something to get me fired up and get me go back to the locker room,” Davis said. “But it ain't happening. I plan on playing with discipline. They will not get to me. There's nothing they can do to get me fired up.”</p><p>The 49ers had eight more games last season after the incident in which Singletary sent Davis off the field. Davis said in each of those games he heard taunts from opposing players.</p><p>“They'd tell me, ‘Vernon, go to the locker room,'” Davis said. “It didn't get to me. People still say it. I just laugh. I go on about my business.”</p><p>Davis said it was implausible to think after that game against the Seahawks last season that he would transform himself into one of Singletary's favorites on the team. But Singletary put a lot of responsibility on Davis with his appointment as a team captain.</p><p>“It means I'm a leader and a lot of people are looking at me and seeing how I'm doing,” Davis said. “They expect me to step up, which I will every game.”</p><p><b>INJURY REPORT</b></p><p>Receiver Brandon Jones, who has been out since Aug. 6 with a broken right shoulder blade, returned to full practice Wednesday. Singletary said he will know more after today's practice whether Jones will be available to play Sunday against the Seahawks.</p><p>Defensive end Justin Smith, one of the stars of the 49ers' season-opening win against the Cardinals, did not practice. Although he's listed with an elbow injury, he was held out as a veteran courtesy. He is expected to return to work today and play Sunday.</p><p>Linebacker Ahmad Brooks (knee) did not practice and he is not expected to be available for Sunday's game.</p><p>Cornerback Marcus Hudson (chest) was limited, while guard David Baas (biceps), nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin (shin), guard Chilo Rachal (neck), and defensive end Isaac Sopoaga (shoulder) saw full work.</p><p>For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco via e-mail at matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.</p>