The former starting quarterback — Alex Smith — may or may not be having shoulder surgery any day, but we're not supposed to ask about it. The backup quarterback/assistant coach — Trent Dilfer — who started the game went to the hospital with a concussion. The third-string quarterback with a broken finger who hadn't thrown a pass in six years — Shaun Hill — is now the starter. The backup is the little-used running back — Michael Robinson. Unless it's the wide receiver who seems to be the only guy on the team capable of catching a touchdown pass — Arnaz Battle.

As usual, the most confusion and miscommunication centers on the health and future of Smith, the former No. 1 draft pick.

In the midst of the 49ers' abysmal 27-7 loss to the Vikings, Fox broadcaster J.C. Pearson made a major announcement. Pearson said:

"I had a chance to talk to Alex Smith before the game, and he's gonna have to have surgery on that shoulder. He said it might be as early as next week, but definitely before Christmas. It'll be 11 or 12 weeks of rehabilitation. They've got to reattach a ligament in his shoulder."

When I asked Smith about the report as he walked off the field after the game, he said nothing had been decided.

"I'm going to try to throw a couple more times," he said. "There's nothing definite. I said it was a possibility. It's not up to me."

Maybe Smith isn't supposed to announce anything without clearing it with his agent, Tom Condon. Or he's supposed to let his coach make the surgery announcement. As they did when reports of potential surgery surfaced in October, the 49ers blamed the messenger, saying Pearson had it all wrong.

Coach Mike Nolan pretty much shut down all questions on the topic of Smith, snapping, "When something is decided, we'll give it to you; otherwise you'd be wasting your breath."

So no breath-wasting asking about Smith — who is supposed to throw Monday in practice. Just breath-wasting asking about all the other 49ers miseries, for which they have no answers or corrections.

This is the twisted situation the 49ers find themselves, a weird sideshow to a pathetic season. Playing at home Sunday, the 49ers were crushed by a mediocre Vikings team. Crushed despite holding the fabulous rookie Adrian Peterson to just 3 yards rushing. Nolan seemed to think that was a positive, though you could construe it as a factor that made the loss even more embarrassing.

Smith's backup, Dilfer, was wretched in the first half. His first pass was intercepted by defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who returned it 18 yards for a touchdown, putting the 49ers in a hole 14 seconds into the game. Dilfer threw for just 45 yards, earning a quarterback rating of 23.4 and the wrath of the crowd.

On the second-to-last play in the first half, scrambling on fourth down, Dilfer took a shot to the head from cornerback Charles Gordon's knee. Dilfer lay still on the field for five minutes before being helped off. He was taken to Stanford Hospital to be evaluated during the game. He is most likely out next week. So the 49ers were finally forced to play Hill. Hill has been in the NFL for six years, but his only previous action was to take two kneel-downs in Minnesota. On Sunday, Hill came into the game in the third quarter and looked poised and competent. He immediately led the 49ers on a 6 ›-minute touchdown drive, completing 6 of 7 passes, including one to Battle that prevented a home shutout. Granted, the Vikings' defense was playing soft because Minnesota already had amassed an astonishing 27-0 lead in the first half, but Hill provided a spark.

Is this a good thing? Not necessarily. Because if Hill can rally the team, why the heck hadn't he gotten a chance earlier? The one touchdown was all Hill managed. He threw an interception on the next possession. In the fourth quarter, two 49ers drives ended with fumbles — by Frank Gore and Hill. It was another Sunday spent going backward.

Hill will probably be the starter. The team might also activate former UCLA Bruin Drew Olson from the practice squad for the Cincinnati game. But never fear.

"We do a great job of preparing, and our coaches do a great job with us quarterbacks of getting us prepared to play with mental reps among other things during the week," Hill said. Hill said that with a straight face. He must have had Nolan's Kool-Aid in his water bottle if he thinks the 49ers have done a great job getting their quarterbacks prepared.

Hill said "mental reps" are going through the play being run on the field while standing on the sideline. Imagining how the play would unfold. The 49ers should try to mentally rep a win. It's just not happening.