Tom Brady is the one who suffered the knee injury. But Randy Moss is hurting right along with him.

The New England receiver has only 12 catches for 163 yards and a touchdown. Not bad, but nowhere near the turf-shredding numbers Moss and Brady combined for last season.

Still, San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Clements isn't about to breathe easier.

"When you have a player of that caliber you always want to be wary and aware of where he's at on the field because he can make a play at any time," he said Wednesday. "You definitely want to always keep your eyes on that type of receiver."

The 49ers' secondary is coming off a game in which it surrendered big plays of 76, 52, 47 and 33 yards. That's more big plays than the Patriots have had all season. Over its first three games, New England has only one play longer than 40 yards (a 51-yard catch by Moss).

Clearly, Moss is struggling to get in sync with new quarterback Matt Cassel.

"I think that first of all he has to believe in himself," Moss told New England writers Wednesday. "I think it will trickle on down to the whole offense. We have seen Matt progress in these last couple of weeks quicker than we expected him to."

—Steve Young's No. 8 jersey will be retired during a halftime ceremony at Candlestick Park on Sunday. Among his fans is the guy currently wearing No. 14.

"When I grew up watching the 49ers, he was the quarterback that was playing," quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan said. "Everything that he did was kind of my introduction to pro football, so I have nothing but the highest respect for him."

O'Sullivan grew up in the Sacramento area and used to venture up to 49ers training camps. He said he got Young's autograph "multiple times."

—Jonas Jennings, who has considered right-shoulder surgery, instead might be on the comeback trail. Coach Mike Nolan indicated Wednesday that Jennings is making improvements. "I would look for him to be back shortly. But I don't know if it will be that soon," Nolan said. The 49ers had been mum about Jennings' timetable since he suffered the injury Sept. 14 at Seattle. Jennings will be sidelined for a third consecutive week.

—Linebacker Manny Lawson (hamstring strain) won't play Sunday, Nolan said. That opens the door for Tully Banta-Cain to suit up on game day for the first time this season. "Possibly," Nolan said. "We'll see how he practices." Banta-Cain, who played for the Patriots in 2003-06, has been on the inactive list for the previous four games.

—Receivers Josh Morgan and Jason Hill are getting closer to being able to make more of an impact, Nolan said. Morgan is bouncing back from what he said was a staph infection. "He looks to be back," Nolan said.