49ers to go with Akers as their kicker in tomorrow night's playoff game with Pack

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SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco 49’ers say they’ll go with veteran kicker David Akers tomorrow night, when the Niners host Green Bay in an NFC divisional playoff contest.

Veteran Billy Cundiff was brought in 10 days ago to provide competition, after Akers had made only 29-of-42 field goal attempts in the regular season. He did make a 63-yarder at Lambeau Field during the season opener in September, which hit the crossbar and bounced over. Akers recently said he had double-hernia surgery last February, and he aggravated his injury earlier this season when he slipped on the field at practice. He received an injection in late November to control the injury. Niners’ coach Jim Harbaugh says the 38-year-old Akers – a 15-year veteran – gives the team its best chance to win.

Meanwhile, Packers’ kicker Mason Crosby appears to be back on track after struggling during much of the regular season. Crosby has made his last five field goal attempts.

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Packers’ receivers Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb are both expected to play tomorrow night at San Francisco. Nelson hurt an ankle last weekend, and Cobb’s been fighting the flu. But both practiced on a limited basis yesterday, after missing Wednesday’s workout. Several other Packers with aches-and-pains were full participants yesterday – Clay Matthews, James Starks, Alex Green, and rookie linebacker Dezman Moses. Meanwhile, Packers’ rookie safety Sean Richardson will have surgery on Tuesday to repair a disk in his back. He was put on injured reserve in early December, after getting hurt against the New York Giants on November 25th. Richardson was an undrafted free agent from Vanderbilt.

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Packers’ receiver Donald Driver hopes to be put on special teams tomorrow night at San Francisco. The 37-year-old veteran has been inactive for four of the Packers’ last six games – and fans cried foul when they saw him on the sidelines in street clothes during last week’s Wild Card home victory over Minnesota. Driver said he asked to be on the kickoff and punt coverage teams, so he could be in action as his 14th and possibly final NFL season is about to wind down. He worked closely with special teams’ coach Shawn Slocum at practice earlier this week – and he expects to be activated for the 49’ers contest. Still, Driver said he would not push the coaches too much to get playing time, because he doesn’t want to be a distraction during the playoffs. But he wants to be ready and available should a receiver go down with a major injury in the Pack’s remaining time this season.

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