Brooks under cloud, but set for Vikings

Ahmad Brooks’ ongoing legal issue won’t prevent the starting outside linebacker from assuming his customary role Monday night when the 49ers host the Vikings to open the regular season.

“I don’t expect any restrictions on Ahmad at all,” defensive coordinator Eric Mangini said.

Brooks, 31, spent nearly two weeks away from the team after he was charged Aug. 25 with misdemeanor sexual battery by the Santa Clara County district attorney’s office. Last Saturday, the NFL, which is conducting an investigation, said it has found no basis to place Brooks on the Commissioner’s Exempt List, which would force him to go on paid leave.

The 49ers have said Brooks will remain on the 53-man roster, but his status could change based on the ongoing investigations by the district attorney’s office and the league.

Last year, Brooks began the season overweight, was reportedly almost dealt to the Browns before the trading deadline and was benched in the second half of a win against the Giants in November after yelling at thendefensive line coach Jim Tomsula over his playing time. He was benched for a game against the Raiders in December for missing a meeting.

However, Mangini indicated Brooks has been a model teammate this season.

“Ahmad has been a guy — throughout the spring and throughout camp — I’ve really been impressed with his work ethic, his toughness, his consistency, his approach in the classroom,” Mangini said. “All those things about him have been outstanding.”

Brooks (41 career sacks) is the only player on the roster with more than nine career sacks. LB vs. RB: Inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman said he’s looking forward to the big challenge he faces in his first regular-season game since the 2013 season. That challenge: Vikings running back Adrian Peterson, who missed the final 15 games of 2014 after he was indicted on child-abuse charges.

“I’m excited about the matchup,” Bowman said. “I’ve been sitting out for a while, so this is a back you want to face just to see if I’m back to the level I was at.”

Bowman, who was sidelined in 2014 by a severe knee injury, hopes he recovers as well as Peterson did from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in 2011. Peterson returned in nine months and was named the NFL MVP in 2012 after he rushed for the second-most yards (2,097) in league history.

Bowman spoke with Peterson while he rehabilitated last year.

“He went through the same thing,” Bowman said. “And I was able to run into him a few times. We just talked about the injury and really what he did specifically to get back to where he is today.”

Added Bowman: “I enjoy watching him when he’s not playing against us, but Monday I have to defend him.” Coach on pass catcher: Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer is quite familiar with 49ers wide receiver Anquan Boldin. From 2010 to 2012, Zimmer, then the Bengals’ defensive coordinator, gameplanned for Boldin when he was playing with the AFC North rival Ravens.

This week, Zimmer hailed Boldin’s size, run-after-thecatch ability, blocking and physicality. About that physicality …

“He’ll kind of shove you out of the way too sometimes,” Zimmer told Minnesota reporters. “Don’t tell the officials I said that.”