The 49ers fired coach Mike Nolan yesterday, seven games into his fourth consecutive dismal season with the club, according to FOXsports.com.

Assistant head coach Mike Singletary is expected to take over the 49ers (2-5), who got off to a 2-1 start this season before four consecutive losses culminating in Sunday's 29-17 loss to the Giants.

Instead of delaying the decision until the 49ers' off week after Sunday's home game against Seattle, owner John York apparently didn't wait to get rid of his choice to revive the five-time Super Bowl champions, who have endured five consecutive losing seasons and haven't made the playoffs since 2002.

Nolan, who hadn't been fired when he conducted his usual Monday news conference, informed FOXSports.com of his dismissal. He didn't immediately return a phone call from The Associated Press, and several team executives and coaches didn't return phone messages and e-mails last night.

Nolan is 18-37 in 3 1/2 seasons with the 49ers, who hired the veteran defensive coordinator to run every aspect of the club in January 2005. Though Nolan brought back a measure of respectability to the franchise, the 49ers haven't managed a winning season or made a significant impact on the league in his tenure.

Linebacker Keith Rivers was scheduled for surgery yesterday to set his broken jaw, an injury that will end his season. Rivers was hurt when Steelers receiver Hines Ward leveled him with a straight-up block in the Steelers' 38-10 victory Sunday. The first-round draft pick walked off the field without assistance and went for tests that detected the fracture. The hit came on the fourth play of the game. Ben Roethlisberger completed a 6-yard pass to Matt Spaeth near the right sideline, and Rivers tried to chase him down. Ward was farther downfield, saw the linebacker coming and leveled him.

Suspended Dallas cornerback Adam Jones has entered an alcohol treatment center. The oft-troubled former West Virginia player has checked into a facility "in another part of the country," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said. The NFL said it would not comment. The league suspended Adam Jones for at least four games last Tuesday for again violating its personal conduct policy. Only six weeks after being reinstated from a 17-month suspension because of repeated legal problems, Jones was involved in an alcohol-related scuffle Oct. 7 with one of his bodyguards at a private party in Dallas. The Cowboys had employed the bodyguards to try to keep Jones out of trouble.

The Patriots put running back Laurence Maroney on injured reserve with a shoulder injury ending his season. The team also activated offensive lineman Stephen Neal from the physically unable to perform list before last night's game against the Broncos and signed cornerback Mike Richardson from the practice squad. To make room, the Patriots released offensive lineman Dan Connolly. The loss of Maroney dealt another blow to an offense playing without reigning NFL MVP Tom Brady, who sustained a season-ending knee injury in the opener.

Running back Steven Jackson has a slightly strained quadriceps and is expected to play at New England Sunday. Jackson had 160 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the Rams' 34-14 victory against the Dallas Cowboys. Jackson was hurt on his 25th carry when he planted awkwardly as he fell to the turf. Jackson limped off the field and into the locker room.