General manager Trent Baalke said there is "no truth" to a NFL Network report Monday that the 49ers approached Frank Gore in the offseason and told him his roster spot was in jeopardy Gore, the 49ers’ all-time leading rusher, is in the final year of his contract. Baalke was incredulous at the notion the 49ers wouldn’t have brought Gore back for this season, his 10^th. The 49ers are not currently negotiating a possible extension with Gore, Baalke said, adding that any such deal wouldn’t happen until after the season. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree, guard Mike Iupati and cornerbacks Perrish Cox and Chris Culliver are other starters in the final year of their respective contracts. Gore entered Monday night’s game at St. Louis as the NFL’s 11^th-leading rusher (365 yards), and he was coming off his consecutive 100-yard rushing games for the first time since 2011. He’s finished in the top 10 each year since Jim Harbaugh arrived as coach in 2011. Gore has started 50 consecutive games, the longest streak among active running backs. He’s joined Jim Brown and Barry Sanders as the only running backs in NFL history to register at least 200 carries and a 4.0 yards-per-carry average in eight straight seasons. With 10,332 career yards entering Monday’s game, Gore needed 110 to move into 25^th all-time for most rushing yards, passing Eddie George (10,441 yars). Gore is making $3.3 million in base salary this year (plus a $2.75 million roster bonus) in the final season of a three-year pact he signed in 2011.

Business is picking up for Aaron Lynch in his rookie season as a 49ers pass rusher. The past two games, both wins, have tapped into Lynch’s potential as he’s become their left outside linebacker on passing downs. Lynch said he’s having his most fun since, “shoot, my freshman year in college.” That was in 2011 at Notre Dame, where he produced 5 ½ sacks and 33 tackles, including a career-high six tackles against Stanford. But then his career got sidetracked. He returned to his native Florida, sat out the 2012 season upon transferring to the University of South Florida, and spent one season there before coming out for the draft. A fifth-round draft pick, his stock had dropped amid character concerns that he says are unfounded. “I wouldn’t say my character is bad, like it was put out there to be,” Lynch said Wednesday. “People that know me know that. But I’ve definitely matured as a man and as a football player. “That comes with experience, being around older guys. You’re not around a bunch of college guys anymore, so everybody is more professional.” The 49ers’ selection of Lynch sparked a damning response from South Florida’s strength coach at the time. Hans Straub resigned shortly after his Twitter post questioning the 49ers’ draft criteria and writing: “Clearly, integrity and character are not a priority.” Lynch dismissed such criticism, saying he isn’t fazed by outsiders’ opinion on him, “because they don’t know you, they don’t live your life.” Lynch’s 6-foot-6 frame has undergone an extreme makeover since the draft. He relied on a steak-friendly diet to put on weight and check in over 270 pounds in training camp, which was a similar weight to his Notre Dame days. His weight startlingly dropped to 244 pounds at South Florida, which he attributed to using Adderall to combat attention-deficit disorder. In the past couple months, the team has streamlined his meal plan so he can play between 259 and 263 pounds. “That’s probably a good weight for him,” defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. “We’ll see as we get to know him more.” “I did cut down on steaks, though,” said Lynch, noting his diet is chicken-oriented now. “I can have a steak every now and then, but I don’t try to have too much steak.” Two months ago, Lynch was joking how coach Jim Harbaugh encouraged him to take two or three steaks home with him if that’s what he craved. Now, the 49ers are enjoying the fruits of Lynch’s labor, if you will. Harbaugh calls him an “ascending” player, and one reason Lynch says he’s matured is the role models around him. Before the season, Lynch looked mostly to Justin Smith and Patrick Willis for leadership. “Now I look at everybody,” said Lynch, who reeled off the names of about five more players on both offense and defense. “If you feed off everybody, you’re going to be hyped and excited, and you’re going to love playing football,” Lynch said. Lynch has totaled eight hits on quarterbacks and 14 pressures, which are the second-most totals behind Justin Smith. Every little bit helps as the 49ers try compensating for Aldon Smith’s void during his nine-game suspension. Lynch’s increased role the past two games has meant no defensive snaps for Corey Lemonier. Neither player has a sack. Lynch is looking to breakthrough with one Monday night at St. Louis, and although he’ll be happy to do so, he isn’t putting too much emphasis on it. “It’s going to be exciting,” Lynch said. “But a sack is a sack, just like a tackle is a tackle. It’s going to mean a lot, just to get a tackle behind the line of scrimmage.” Lynch made one such tackle to help cap the Sept. 28 win over the Philadephia Eagles, stopping Darren Sproles for a five-yard loss on a last-minute reception. After that game, Harbaugh said of Lynch’s increased action: “He’s been earning that and he’s been coming along and did some very good things and has got things to improve on and get better at. But, he’s playing very physical. … Keep coming along.” Lynch’s transition to the NFL has also meant learning how to drop into coverage as an outside linebacker. “It’s something I’ve had to adapt to,” Lynch said. “But we’re all humans. We all adapt to things. It’s cool.” -- Two days after Harbaugh called him the 49ers’ best special-teams player, Kassim Osgood was released and replaced on the roster by a different special-teams veteran, Bubba Ventrone. Ventrone isn’t a gunner like Osgood but is expected to help coverage units that have struggled this season. Osgood had a minus-5.1 grade this season for his special-teams work, according to ProFootballFocus.com, which gave him a plus-28 grade from 2007-2012. Perhaps factoring into the special-teams move, aside from the obvious need to improve, is a hamstring strain that Nick Moody sustained Sunday. While Harbaugh acknowledged Monday the coverage units must improve, he said of Osgood: “He’s our best player on special teams, especially on the coverage units he’s doing a great job.” -- Phil Dawson won his third NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award since joining the 49ers a year ago, and that trifecta is a franchise record by a kicker. Dawson made all five of his field-goal attempts in Sunday’s 22-17 win over the Chiefs. -- Cornerback Perrish Cox leads the league with 10 passes defensed. The 49ers have 32 as a defense, second only to the New York Giants’ 37.

NaVorro Bowman will return to the 49ers at some point this season, just not next week when he's eligible to come off the physically-unable-to-perform list, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio confirmed Tuesday. Fangio, appearing on KNBR 680-AM, described Bowman's return as "later rather than sooner," adding that Bowman will need a "couple weeks of practice" before debuting on his left knee that was surgically repaired Feb. 4 by Dr. James Andrews in Pensacola, Fla. The 49ers have between next Tuesday and Nov. 24 to activate him off the PUP list, then he'll be afforded a three-week window to practice for further evaluation. Bowman declined to comment last week when asked how his recovery was going. Fangio, however, said Bowman has experienced "no roadblocks" since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the Jan. 21 loss in the NFC Championship game at Seattle. At 5 tonight, ESPN will air an updated profile of Bowman from last year's E:60 piece by Jeffri Chadiha. "It's not like he got hurt in the middle of the season last year," Fangio said. "His rehab and everything has gone great. he still needs enough time to rehab and recover. He'll need a couple weeks of practice, too, to get his legs under him and feel comfortable playing on his leg." A Thanksgiving night game against the Seattle Seahwawks seems like a conceivable target date for Bowman to be back in the lineup by. The 49ers play four days earlier against Washington -- also at Levi's Stadium -- so perhaps the 49ers don't have Bowman play in back-to-back games so close together, unless his comeback indeed came in the preceding games (Nov. 2 vs. Rams, Nov. 9 at Saints, Nov. 16 at Giants). Outside linebacker Aldon Smith remains on course to return immediately from his nine-game suspension, and that first game would be the road trip to the Giants. Smith's last visit to New York: an Aug. 7 sitdown with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who issued the suspension Aug. 29. When Fangio said he asked Smith how his conditioning is, he said Smith replied: "I'm the most fit guy in this building." Smith declined an interview request last week. "He seems to be doing well along those (conditioning) lines and we're looking forward to his return here down the line," Fangio added.  

New information is emerging about how extensive the 49ers' relationship is with the San Jose Police Department, which has launched an internal review of its moonlighting practices after Ray McDonald's Aug. 31 arrest on suspicion of felony domestic violence. While Santa Clara County prosecutors are reviewing the police investigation and debating whether to file criminal charges against McDonald, this newspaper is uncovering just how connected police are to the 49ers. Some 20 San Jose police officers also work for 49ers security, and one such officer responded to McDonald's house before other officers arrived to arrest him in response to a 911 call from a victim who had visible injuries. While the conflict-of-interest angle will be scrutinized -- by more than just ESPN's Keith Olbermann -- it's important not to jump to conclusions regarding police relations with the 49ers -- or other pro teams. Personally, I hold peace officers to the utmost respect, as I do with the 49ers full-time security personnel I've come to know over the past 15 years covering this team. Sidenote: the 49ers long-time training facility and new stadium are based in Santa Clara, and while that falls under the Santa Clara Police Department's jurisdiction, several players and staff live in nearby San Jose, including McDonald. I don't know what happened at McDonald's house that night. I do know he hasn't been kept from practicing or playing since his arrest, because the 49ers are affording him "due process" as they await "facts and information." Well, more information is coming out, and I suggest reading Robert Salonga's story on the SJPD's connection to the 49ers. Meanwhile, more backlash is on its way toward the 49ers, the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell. McDonald has declined interview requests from the media since the season began. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio recently said that McDonald's play can't help but be affected by his off-field issues. Although McDonald has no sacks and is averaging about three tackles per game, he ranks as the league's 12th best defensive end/tackle in a 3-4 scheme, according to ProFootballFocus.com

While NaVorro Bowman continues to work his way back from a gruesome knee injury, Michael Wilhoite is making strides as Bowman’s temp on the 49ers defense. Bowman is among those applauding Wilhoite, as well as mentoring him on the side. “I see him raising his game and just understanding his opportunity,” Bowman said Tuesday. “… I let him know this is his chance to put tape out there and show people he can play in the the NFL. “I’m excited for him to continue to get better every single week.” Wilhoite had only two previous starts before this season, and both came last year in place of Patrick Willis. Through four games this year, Wilhoite and Willis are improving their chemistry, and a direct byproduct is an improved run defense. The 49ers have allowed the second-fewest rushing yards per game (69.8), a statistic especially impressive considering they yielded 127 in a season-opening win at Dallas. In three ensuing games, the 49ers have given up 132 rushing yards, boosting their confidence for Sunday’s home game against the Kansas City Chiefs (3-1). “We just watched what Kansas City can do, from last night on Monday Night Football,” Wilhoite said. “We’ll be ready, prepare well and try to put on the same performance we had the last three weeks.” Bowman is playing a role in those preparations while also recovering from last December’s knee injury; he declined to update his health but looks on track to return in November. “NaVorro is always in my ear, giving me little hints, little things to look for against a team,” Wilhoite said. “Maybe he sees a tendency I didn’t see or he might feel something I didn’t feel, just from watching film and by his experience from playing. He always gives me the tip or hint. “It’d be hard-pressed to not ever see NaVorro not give me a tip or try to help me,” Wilhoite continued. “NaVorro loves this team and wants it to be successful, and to do that, we have to be on the same page.” Most pressing is being on the same page on Sundays with Willis, who’s developed a terrific bond with Bowman as his sidekick the previous three seasons. “I see him and Pat getting comfortable as the weeks go on,” Bowman said. “I see that in certain situations, it gets tough because some of the errors they’re making, it’s kind of like you (needing to be) comfortable with each other. It’s going to take time but they’re playing well.” Added Wilhoite: “We’ve gotten a lot more comfortable with each other, with our play, with our communication and our trust in each other.” Wilhoite and Willis looked in sync last Sunday when they not only shut down the Philadelphia Eagles’ rushing attack but fared well in coverage. “Mike’s a good coverage linebacker,” Bowman added. “A lot of people don’t know that but we as linebackers and teammates, we see that in practice every week. The coverage part, of getting a feel when he can and can’t take chances, that comes with experience.”

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree, through Twitter rather than any third party, reported Tuesday that the 49ers are "good over here." That comes on the heels of Deion Sanders, his long-time pal and a NFL Network analyst, stating Sunday night that 49ers players want coach Jim Harbaugh ousted. As obvious as it is to connect dots between Crabtree and Sanders through their friendship, Sanders posted a note on Twitter on Monday that clarified Crabtree was not his source, rather he relied on information from people in "uniforms, suits and ties." Crabtree weighed in Tuesday morning:

I don't know what people are talking about with Mr Deion... But we good over here! — Michael Crabtree (@KingCrab15) September 30, 2014

  Harbaugh's response to Crabtree's tweet when told of it during his Tuesday morning appearance on KNBR 680-AM: "It sounds good, and I think players should feel real good about what they accomplished this past Sunday." Harbaugh had no disparaging remarks toward Sanders, saying he has great respect for him "as a person and a player." The competition aspect inevitably creates "noise" inside locker rooms -- or any other work environments -- Harbaugh said. Added Harbaugh: "When it comes to a football team, if there's people that want to divide, divide, divide on the outside, then our response is, 'Unite, unite, unite.' That's the way our team has always gone about it."