KICK IN THE REAR

Apple by mom’s side for surgery

Eli Apple was excused from Thursday’s Giants practice for the most important of reasons: His mother, Annie, was due to undergo brain surgery, and her son wanted to be by her side.

“My brain surgery is tomorrow and my recovery is up to eight weeks,” Annie Apple had tweeted on Wednesday. “My neurosurgeon and Eli wants me to sit my ass down. But I’m Ghanaian-American. So I will be doing the most today. #AnnieTwoPointOh.”

Linebacker Curtis Grant, Apple’s teammate on the 2014 national champion Ohio State Buckeyes, said Eli Apple’s teammates had his back but many probably weren’t aware of his mother’s predicament.

“Some probably (knew), others really don’t. That’s more of a personal thing for him. He didn’t really share that with the team,” Grant said. “But going through something like that you want to be there to support your parents, especially a mother. I wish her the best. Prayers go out to her.” showed, the catches he made. There’s some things he did in the run game… He’s a guy I was particularly proud of”

Rookie kicker Aldrick Rosas’ struggles are no secret. The 22-year-old has missed at least one field goal in the last five games in which he’s attempted one, including a 34-yarder from the middle of the field last Sunday in Santa Clara. He also booted the opening kickoff on Sunday out of bounds, giving the 49ers the ball at the 45-yard line.

Special teams coach Tom Quinn says it is all in Rosas’ head.

“I think you’re always concerned about their mental state and that’s the biggest thing about succeeding in this league as a specialist is your mental toughness,” he said.