RB Gainey to have MRI on knee; Gentile returns Wednesday night

49ers news, notes:

-- Running back Donjore Gainey is having an MRI Thursday on an injured knee. With true freshman Maetron Thomas nursing a sore shoulder, junior Damarrell Alexander will likely open the season as the backup to Kalif Phillips. Alexander gained 280 yards last season with an average of 6.8 yards per carry. He scored on a 51-yard run against Morehead State, a game in which he gained 101 yards.

-- Coach Brad Lambert said he’s pretty sure Thomas and true freshmen receivers T.L. Ford and Juwon Foggie will not redshirt this season.

-- Cook (hamstring) and receiver Trent Bostick (foot) have missed practice time, but are back. Center Thomas La Bianca  (knee) is also expected to return soon.
 

-- The 49ers are practicing in the afternoons now. Lambert is hoping the recent heat remains to better have his team conditioned for next week’s opener against Campbell.

-- The Charlotte Eagles are host to Orlando City FC in a USL Pro soccer game at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Queens Sports Complex in what is a homecoming former Eagles and Charlotte 49ers forward Giuseppe Gentile. Gentile, who left the 49ers after his sophomore season, was taken by the Chicago Fire in this season's Major League Soccer waiver draft. Gentile played in three reserve matches for the Fire before being loaned to the Eagles. He signed with Orlando City on July 11.

Gentile, who played at Ardrey Kell High, has scored twice this season for USL Pro -- including for the Eagles against Orlando City in May. Orlando City, which is moving to MLS next season, leads the USL Pro standings with 52 points (16-2-4). The Eagles (8-13-3) have 27 points and are two points out of the eighth and final playoff spot with two games remaining.