Posted at 12:49 a.m., Saturday, October 20, 2007
NFL: 49ers QB Smith unlikely to play against Giants
By Daniel Brown
San Jose Mercury News
Coach Mike Nolan indicated yesterday that Shaun Hill, a sixth-year player who has yet to throw a regular-season NFL pass, will serve as Trent Dilfer's backup against the Giants.
Smith is still not comfortable after suffering a separated shoulder Sept. 30 against the Seattle Seahawks. He was unable to take many snaps during team drills, so Hill took over backup duty.
"It's a matter of reps more than anything," Nolan said of the decision to make Smith No. 3. Hill, out of the University of Maryland, has played in just one career game: On Jan. 1, 2006 he knelt down for a loss of a yard in the Minnesota Vikings' regular-season finale.
Smith, meanwhile, will serve as the emergency third quarterback. That means if he is inserted into the game before the fourth quarter, the 49ers first two quarterbacks cannot be used in the game at any position.
