49ers starters CB Tarell Brown, LB Patrick Willis miss Thursday's practice

(01-20) 21:14 PST - Call it the linebacker lineage, an ongoing mentorship program in the heart of the 49ers ' defense. Just as Takeo Spikes guided Patrick Willis early in his NFL career, so too does Willis watch out for NaVorro Bowman. Bowman clearly can hold his own on the football field,...

SANTA CLARA – 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown made like a receiver at one point last weekend against the New Orleans Saints, fully extending for an over-the-shoulder interception of a Drew Brees pass shortly before halftime. Hector Amezcua hamezcua@sacbee.com 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown has been on an interception tear lately, here picking off a Drew Brees pass intended...

If one 49er could provide more insight than any other on the Giants-49ers clash it's 49ers cornerback Tarell Brown. Brown is best friends with one of his former Texas Longhorn teammates, Aaron Ross, who happens to be a starting cornerback for the Giants. Because of the connection, Brown got up...

The New York Giants have two huge advantages going into their NFC Championship showdown Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers. Momentum. And recent NFL history. "I think they're on a winning streak," Niners linebacker Patrick Willis said. "So, I don't think too much has worked in other teams' favor." You know what else hasn't worked in other...

San Francisco 49ers linebacker All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis was listed as questionable for Sunday's NFC Championshp Game against the New York Giants.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis was held out of practice on Thursday because of a knee injury.  It doesn’t seem like the 49ers are concerned about Willis possibly missing Sunday’s game. Also missing practice for the 49ers were Tarell Brown (thigh),  Ted Ginn (knee) and Jonathan Goodwin (calf).

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — All-Pro linebacker Patrick Willis is the 49ers’ defensive weapon of choice and winning the NFC Championship game Sunday against the Giants would write another incredible chapter in his amazing life of overcoming all odds. “My story just tells people that regardless how bad the situation is don...

Everybody knows the list of usual suspects the 49ers will be relying upon in Sunday’s NFC Championship Game – front-line producers such as Vernon Davis, Frank Gore, Justin Smith and Patrick Willis, the same guys who’ve been doing it all season. But to make it to the Super Bowl, it may come down to what the 49ers get from a handful of complementary players who must step up against the Giants.

Linebacker opens up about former college teammate Eli Manning, the relationship between 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and quarterback Alex Smith.

San Francisco’s already weak wide receiver group may be short a player on Sunday against the Giants. Ted Ginn was among the 49ers who missed Thursday’s practice, according to Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. Patrick Willis (hamstring) and center Jonathan Goodwin (calf) also missed the portion of practice open to the media, but they don’t seem…

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ted Ginn, safety Dashon Goldson and linebacker Patrick Willis are listed as questionable for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the New York Giants.