A.Smith to start Vs. Saints..

[Fuck Your Existence]

Smith will return to 49ers starting lineup against Saints

Associated Press

Updated: October 25, 2007, 5:51 PM ET

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SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Quarterback Alex Smith will start for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday against New Orleans, coach Mike Nolan said.

Smith, out since Sept. 30 with a separated shoulder, went through his second full day of practice Thursday, leading the 49ers' first-team offense with no apparent discomfort.

He hasn't played since injuring his right shoulder on the third play of San Francisco's 23-3 loss to Seattle. Nolan nearly used Smith last week against the New York Giants, but elected to hold out the former No. 1 overall draft pick.

"It's not so much my confidence in him, it's his confidence in taking reps [in practice]," Nolan said. "I expect him to play well, and he looked good. He looked healthy today."

San Francisco is 0-3 since Smith's injury, with Sunday's visit from the Saints looming as a key moment in the season.

Smith was 43-of-84 for 461 yards and just one touchdown this season, but the 49ers won twice in their first three games while he was healthy. Trent Dilfer had similar statistics after replacing Smith, but the 14-year veteran had a hand in four turnovers in last week's loss to the Giants.

Running back Frank Gore also expects to play Sunday despite a sprained ankle. Gore was limited in practice for the second straight day, mostly confining his workouts to individual drills.

"It was all right, and it'll get better day by day," said Gore, who has just 394 yards rushing after leading the NFC last year. "We'll just wrap it up, and I'll try to go out there and play on it."

Left tackle Jonas Jennings is unlikely to play after injuring his ankle last week, with Adam Snyder expected to replace him. Receiver Darrell Jackson also missed his second day of practice Thursday with a quadriceps injury.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

i dont know whether to be relieved or pissed off .......god damnit

[WC Iz Active]

^^how can you not be relieved?   have you watched Dilfer,  he is trash!!  Our offensive line needs to fuckin show up for once, Im so frusterated with the Niners.

[Man On The Moon]

^^how can you not be relieved?   have you watched Dilfer,  he is trash!!  Our offensive line needs to fuckin show up for once, Im so frusterated with the Giants.

Smith wasn't much better when he was in.

[WC Iz Active]

^^but we did win 2 games with him.  I dont think we could ever win a game with Dilfer

[Man On The Moon]

^^but we did win 2 games with him.  I dont think we could ever win a game with Dilfer

True. Our Offensive coordinator sucks balls.

[Fuck Your Existence]

^^how can you not be relieved?   have you watched Dilfer,  he is trash!!  Our offensive line needs to fuckin show up for once, Im so frusterated with the Giants.

the only diffrence between the play of those dudes this year is Smith can actually scramble a lil if need be...but i agree on the o-line though..fucking pathetic. im at a loss for words right now...expectations were high and now they cant get any lower...Patrick Willis is that dude and is a bright spot.

[Fuck Your Existence]

^^but we did win 2 games with him.  I dont think we could ever win a game with Dilfer

word..i expected better from Dilfer.....

[Bay Area Jat]

the saints are my lock of the week

[Don Jacob]

hopefully bush does better.

[Sparegeez]

the saints are my lock of the week

Your lock of the week is a three point favorite? Are you retarded?

[Sofa_King_Awesome]

the saints are my lock of the week

Your lock of the week is a three point favorite? Are you retarded?

How is that retarded. He didn't say underdog pick. A lock means a guarantee, "put your mortgage or bet the whole farm on it" pick. Anyway, Dilfer stunk it up, but Alex Smith sucks also IMHO. Niners future is grim if he is their guy.

[Sanford - V. President of the Dangerous Crew Movement]

yea, both qb's suck.  we need to sign vick.

[Man On The Moon]

yea, both qb's suck.  we need to sign vick.

Vick is sorry, and overrated.

[Don Jacob]

he'll be gone for a while.

[Lunatic]

lock of the week: titans