Nothing symbolized the 49ers' postgame injury report better than Frank Gore's eye.

The eye was swollen and bruised, like a fighter after the 12th round. The running back said a defender poked him in the right eye while he was under a pileup in the first half.

He remained in the game and declined to say whether his vision was affected during the Tennessee Titans' 34-27 victory at Candlestick Park.

"I was all right. But I wanted to win,'' Gore said. "I told my boys that I'm going to stay out there and fight with them, and that's what I did."

Gore finished with 15 rushes for 83 yards and a touchdown. He also had seven catches for 75 yards.

Like a long list of others, Gore will be re-evaluated today.

None of the injuries is considered long-term, but the sheer number of banged-up players could be concern during a short week. The 49ers face the Chicago Bears on Thursday at Candlestick.

The other players getting medical attention today:

Safety Michael Lewis (left quadriceps strain), running back Glen Coffee (concussion), tight end Delanie Walker (left knee sprain), safety Curtis Taylor (right shin contusion), running back Michael Robinson (right shoulder stinger), left guard David Baas (right shoulder stinger), cornerback Tarell Brown (left rib contusion) and tight end Vernon Davis (left shoulder contusion).

  • With 102 receiving yards, Davis became the first 49ers tight end with a
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    100-yard receiving game since Eric Johnson had 162 against Arizona on Oct. 10, 2004. And Davis was the first 49er with a 100-yard receiving game since Isaac Bruce last Nov. 23.

    Davis played while mourning the death of Joseph Luna, the ailing boy he thrilled during a recent visit in Houston.

    Luna died Friday evening of an aggressive form of cancer called neuroblastoma. The Austin resident was Davis' biggest fan and arranged to meet the tight end when the 49ers played in Houston on Oct. 25.

    Luna was 13.

    "I can't begin to explain what meeting Joseph meant to me," Davis said in a statement released by the 49ers. "He was a great kid with an amazing spirit. I am still wearing the bracelet he gave me.

    "I really want him to know that the short time we spent together meant as much to me as I'm sure it did to him. I am truly sorry to see him go so early in his life, but I know that he is in a better place. My thoughts and prayers go out to Joseph and his family."

    Davis and Luna met a day before the Houston Texans game at the team hotel, where the tight end introduced him to Gore and Moran Norris. Those players joined Davis in extending their deepest condolences to the family.

  • Titans running back Chris Johnson had little trouble with the 49ers' run defense, which ranked second in the NFL against the rush. It was Johnson's second straight multi-touchdown game and third consecutive game with 100-plus yards on the ground.

    "Dang, that boy is fast,'' Tennessee receiver Nate Washington said. "He is an amazing player.

    "We heard so many things about this being the best run defense in the league, but we came out with one goal in our mind and that was to show we have the best back in the league."

  • Bruce led the 49ers with 835 receiving yards last season, but his current role appears to diminish by the week. Bruce played sparingly against the Titans and had only one catch for 3 yards.

  • With 286 passing yards, quarterback Alex Smith (5,369 career yards) surpassed Steve Spurrier (5,250) for seventh place on the 49ers' all-time passing list.