SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Even as a senior, Ohio State running back Carlos Hyde learned a few things from talented freshman Ezekiel Elliott before entering the 2014 draft.Elliott taught Hyde the value of being an asset without the ball in his hands.Running backs as talented as Hyde, who ran for 3,198 yards in college, get notoriety for making tacklers miss. Hyde appreciates Elliott for showing him how to make defenders miss his teammates by throwing blocks downfield.He came in and set the tone with that, said Hyde, without the ball, running down the field, throwing a cut block. ... He changed our (running backs) room at Ohio State with that.Elliott went on to get drafted fourth overall by the Dallas Cowboys last spring, in part because of his complete skill set. Not only did he eclipse Hydes Ohio State rushing total by 763 yards in three seasons (Hyde played four), Elliott was widely considered the best blocking back in the 2016 draft.Hes not a guy that you have to take off the field, 49ers coach Chip Kelly said of Elliott. Hes got speed. Hes got power. You know, hes kind of the best combination. ... and I think everybody agreed, that he was the top back in the draft last year.Elliott entered the NFL two years after Hyde was taken in the second round by the 49ers. They square off Sunday at Levis Stadium when Dallas (2-1) visits San Francisco (1-2).For the season, Elliott has 274 yards rushing on 71 carries with one touchdown. His former teammate has four touchdowns with 225 yards on 58 carries for San Francisco.Hyde said he hasnt paid attention to the fact hes playing against his college pupil. After all, hes going against Dallas 10th-ranked rushing defense, while Elliott will be looking to make his mark against a 49ers defense that allowed 947 yards combined in its consecutive losses to Carolina and Seattle.But Hydes All-Pro teammate NaVorro Bowman thinks the game Sunday has personal meaning for the running back.I think Carlos had (Elliott) underneath his wing for sure at Ohio State, Bowman said. So he cant let the young guy get the best of the game. I think Carlos will be holding this one special in his heart.Ohio State won a national championship during Hydes rookie season with San Francisco. Hyde made sure to be on the sideline during the championship game against Oregon that January after the 49ers finished 8-8 and missed the playoffs for the first time in three seasons.The Buckeyes rolled 42-20, with Elliott setting a season high with 246 yards rushing and four touchdowns. It was the third straight game Elliott had at least 200 yards.When I was there, (Elliott) was in the room with us and my position coach, coach (Stan Drayton), made us feel like a family in that room. . . . It was just exciting to see that, Hyde said.Game notes49ers TE Vance McDonald (hip) returned to practice Thursday after missing Wednesdays session. ... CB Jimmie Ward missed practice (quadriceps) for the second straight day. ... Cowboys WR Dez Bryant (knee), QB Tony Romo (back), LT Tyron Smith (back) and G Lael Collins (toe) have not practiced this week.---Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: www.twitter.com/AP-NFLCheap Custom Packers Jersey . -- Playing time has been limited for Maxim Tissot this season, so the Montreal Impact defender made the most of his first scoring opportunity on Saturday. Cheap Packers Jerseys . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. http://www.custompackersjersey.com/custom-rashan-gary-jersey-large-72r.html . After a first half in which he thought "the lid was on the basket," the Toronto Raptors coach watched his squad mount a second half surge to defeat the Cleveland Cavaliers 98-91. Custom Packers Jerseys . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Packers Jerseys China . Now that hes hitting streaking teammates with pin-point passes for easy layups, Love is asserting himself as one of the true superstars in the league.TORONTO -- Top-ranked Novak Djokovic survived a scare to beat Gilles Muller 7-5, 7-6 (3) on Wednesday in the Rogers Cup, his final event before the Rio Olympics.I actually think that Toronto is a great way for me to prepare for the Olympic Games and whats coming up after that, Djokovic said. But also, you know, I enjoy my time in this tournament that I always love playing.The Serbian star noted that he had extra time off after falling in the third round at Wimbledon. The Rogers Cup rotates between Toronto and Montreal, with the women playing in Montreal this week.I enjoy Canada, both cities, Toronto and Montreal, and the past results in history show that I have a good time on Canadian soil, so I try to get the best out of it, said Djokovic, the tournament winner in 2007, 2011 and 2012.Djokovic struggled against Muller in his first hard-court match since March, both with his serves and his short game. Ultimately, unforced errors were Mullers undoing, with both sets easily inn reach of the unseeded player from Luxembourg.dddddddddddd.Gilles Muller is a very difficult player to play against in quick conditions, Djokovic said. He takes away the time of the opponent. He serves and volleys second serve a lot, as well, which hes one of the rare guys that does that. He likes to play quick, and I think the warm day like today played a lot in his favor.Djokovic will face qualifier Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in the third round.Third-seeded Kei Nishikori of Japan downed American Dennis Novikov 6-4, 7-5; and fourth-seeded Milos Raonic of Canada beat Taiwans Lu Yen-hsun 6-3, 6-3.American qualifier Ryan Harrison outlasted ninth-seeded countryman John Isner 7-6 (3), 6-7 (4), 6-4, and 10th-seeded Gael Monfils of France topped Canadas Vasek Pospisil, Canada, 7-6 (6), 6-0. Monfils won the Citi Open on Sunday in Washington.