Catching up: Afalava questionable, Payne out & tidbits

Finally made it to San Francisco after a long journey through the airport and via the air. No, United didn’t break my guitar, but it wasn’t a fun travel day. Let’s catch up on some news from the day.

*** Kevin Payne has been ruled out for Thursday’s game with a back injury and Al Afalava, who didn’t practice this morning, is questionable. If Afalava cannot play, it is expected that veteran Josh Bullocks will get an opportunity.

*** No big news on the Niners’ injury report, although wide receiver Isaac Bruce is questionable with an ankle injury. You can check out the full and final injury reports below.

*** The Bears-Vikings game at the Metrodome on Nov. 29 has been moved from noon until 3:15 p.m. Kevin Seifert over at ESPN.com points out that the Vikings can clinch the NFC North that day. It’s not a likely scenario and the Bears would have to lose that day as well as either once to San Francisco on Thursday or next week vs. Philadelphia.

*** Ervin Baldwin, known as G-Ball to some, has been signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. The defensive end was a seventh-round pick by the Bears in 2008.

*** Ex-Bears cornerback Marcus Hamilton has signed with the Las Vegas franchise in the UFL.

*** The Eagles, the Bears’ next opponent after the Niners, have some issues in their secondary. Cornerback Ellis Hobbs was placed on injured reserve with a neck injury and nickel back Joselio Hanson has been suspended four games by the NFL for violation of the league’s policy on anabolic steroids and related substances.

*** Finally, the injury report:

Bears

Out

S Kevin Payne, back–DNP, DNP, DNP

RB Garrett Wolfe, kidney–DNP, DNP, DNP

Questionable

SS Al Afalava, shoulder–DNP, DNP, DNP

Probable

TE Desmond Clark, neck–LIM, LIM, FULL

DT Tommie Harris, knee–LIM, LIM, FULL

CB Charles Tillman, shoulder–LIM, LIM, FULL

San Francisco