The Sports Xchange

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — It would be fair to label the apparent stress fracture in running back Carlos Hyde’s right foot a “significant” injury if the 49ers treated it as such.

But other than limiting Hyde to 11 carries in Thursday’s 20-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers don’t seem to be treating Hyde’s injury as anything more than a scratch.

In fact, 49ers head coach Jim Tomsula has never said Hyde’s foot is anymore more than “sore.”

Asked Friday if Hyde needs time off to allow what has been reported as a stress fracture to heal, Tomsula basically said no.

“I understand that he can heal,” he said. “It’s a time thing and we have to monitor his reps and all those things and it heals.”

For what it’s worth, Hyde told reporters after Thursday’s game that the injury didn’t impact his performance in the loss and hadn’t gotten worse.

He was held to 40 yards rushing, his second-lowest output of the season, by the Seattle defense.

“We’re not going to put somebody in danger,” Tomsula said, assuring the 49ers’ medical staff had given Hyde a green light to play Thursday. “Our people don’t put people on the field that are at risk to further injure themselves.”

–Tomsula addressed the team following the one-sided loss, and his message was clear.

Several 49ers repeated it to reporters afterward.

“We can’t let this one get us down,” tight end Vernon Davis said. “It’s over, it’s gone, and we have to keep our heads up and keep going.”

The game was considered an elimination game of sorts in the NFC playoff race. The loss dropped the 49ers to 2-5, relegating them to “keep going” mode.

“We can’t hold our head down on another loss,” wideout Quinton Patton said. “Just have to keep on going.”

Added safety Tramaine Brock: “We’ve got to keep going. Can’t give up.”

And running back Carlos Hyde: “Just keep fighting. Stay positive and we’ll be all right.”

Sounds like everyone got Tomsula’s message.

–The 49ers have three extra days after a Thursday game to ponder changes. Tomsula said Friday that changes would be considered … in all areas but three.

On his starting quarterback: “Colin is our quarterback. There’s no controversies.”

On possibly making a change on his offensive coaching staff: “No.”

On possibly making a change on the coaching staff as a whole: “No. I’m not there at all.”

So where then?

“Scheme,” Tomsula began. “Putting players in the best positions that we can put them in. Getting players in positions to make plays to their strengths.”

Notes: Quarterback Colin Kaepernick reported a swollen thumb, but not a significant injury, in the wake of Thursday’s loss to Seattle. Kaepernick was sacked six times in the game. … Guards Jordan Devey and Andrew Tiller continued to share time in Thursday’s loss to Seattle. Both played 23 snaps, the second time in the last three games they’ve split the offensive plays exactly in half. … Outside linebacker Aaron Lynch ran his season total to five sacks with two in Thursday’s loss to Seattle. Only four players league-wide entered the weekend with more sacks than Lynch.