National Football League

CB Carlos Rogers still hopes to play at Packers

Published Dec. 31, 2013 8:17 p.m. ET

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Cornerback Carlos Rogers remains optimistic of playing for the San Francisco 49ers in Sunday's NFC wild-card playoff game at Green Bay despite an injured right hamstring.

While Rogers didn't offer specifics about the results of an MRI exam done Monday, he said while leaving the practice facility Tuesday night that it is too soon to determine his status for the weekend.

This is the ninth-year veteran defensive back's first hamstring injury. He was hurt late in the fourth quarter of San Francisco's 23-20 win at Arizona on Sunday.

''We'll see, we don't know,'' Rogers said from his car. ''It's all right. It ain't bad. We're taking it day by day.''

The 32-year-old Rogers has 47 tackles, two interceptions and eight passes defensed this season for San Francisco (12-4), riding a six-game winning streak into the playoffs as the franchise chases its sixth championship after falling short 34-31 to Baltimore in last season's Super Bowl.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said he didn't yet know whether Rogers would play. Rogers has started all 16 games in each of his three seasons with the 49ers.

''We're always hopeful,'' Harbaugh said. ''He's a little sore. These guys heal faster than the normal human being.''

To be clear, Rogers isn't even close to ruling himself out in a rematch of last January's divisional-round playoff game won 45-31 by the NFC champion Niners.

''Oh, no,'' he said, ''hell no.''

Rogers, who spent his first six NFL seasons with the Washington Redskins, received a $31.3 million, four-year contract in March 2012. Yet with the emergence of Tramaine Brock and Eric Wright, Rogers' future with the franchise beyond this year is uncertain if he is unwilling to take a pay cut.

In November, Brock signed a $16 million, four-year contract extension that takes him through the 2017 season. The deal includes $7 million in guaranteed money.

If Rogers can't play against the Packers, Harbaugh has said Wright will assume a bigger role in his place - playing the No. 3 cornerback spot as a key piece in the nickel defense.

''The NFL is all about the next guy in,'' Wright said. ''I've played pretty much all the defensive back spots other than safety. So that's allowed me to grow mentally a lot faster, as well.''

Notes: Harbaugh issued a statement wishing well offensive line coach Tim Drevno, who is leaving the organization to become offensive line coach at USC on new coach Steve Sarkisian's staff. He spent the past three years coaching the Niners' O-line. ''It is with great emotion, pride and excitement that we wish Tim Drevno continued success in his professional journey at The University of Southern California,'' Harbaugh said. ''Coach Drevno and I have partnered for the last decade at The University of San Diego, Stanford University and the San Francisco 49ers. Tim has been a trusted agent, outstanding football coach and known friend every step of the way.''

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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org

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