49ers notes: Bruce won't suit up, Hill will

<p>SAN FRANCISCO — Veteran receiver Isaac Bruce appeared on the injury report Wednesday for the first time this season. He is not expected to be in uniform when the 49ers face the Chicago Bears tonight at Candlestick Park.</p><p>Third-year player Jason Hill replaced Bruce near the end of the first half Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Three plays later, Hill caught a 12-yard touchdown pass. Hill finished with four receptions for 50 yards and two touchdowns, while Bruce remained on the sideline.</p><p>Coach Mike Singletary said Bruce “rolled” his ankle in practice Tuesday.</p><p>This would appear to signal a shift to a young receiving corps for the 49ers. Rookie Michael Crabtree and second-year player Josh Morgan are the team’s starting wideouts. Hill appears ready to take over the role of the team’s No.3 wideout.</p><p>Bruce has struggled in the past seven games after performing well in training camp and getting off to a strong start against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept.13. However, Bruce has averaged just two catches and 24 yards since the season opener.</p><h3>EXTRA POINTS</h3> <p>Singletary said he is looking forward to showing the nation that the “young 49ers” are going to “come of age” in the second half of the season.</p><p>When asked how he will know if his team is following through, Singletary said, “All I can say is that you just have to watch the game. I am sure you will ask the questions afterward, but you just have to watch the game. That’s all I can tell you.”</p><p>Does Singletary feel any emotion about coaching against the organization with which he spent his entire 12-year playing career?</p><p>“It is the next game on the schedule,” he said.</p><p>The 49ers will stick with Brandon Jones as the team’s primary punt returner. Jones has returned five punts, with no fair catches, for a grand total of 3 yards in returns.</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>