ESPN.com reports: "[Alex] Smith continues to improve and on Tuesday he will test his reflexes by throwing against a simulated pass rush, it is still uncertain whether or not he will play on Sunday." Smith's shoulder was almost ready to go last week but he stiffened up in pregame warmups. He might start vs. New Orleans this Sunday.

49ers reporter Matt Maiocco writes: "Quarterback Alex Smith's right shoulder is feeling pretty darn good after throwing approximately 100 passes on Saturday to tight end Billy Bajema. Now, however, his right forearm is bothering him. Wednesday is the key day for the 49ers' preparation to face the Giants. The players have their usual Tuesday day off before returning to work on Wednesday. The team's medical staff has told coach Mike Nolan that Smith and tight end Vernon Davis should be able to practice on Wednesday."

49ers QB Alex Smith will not need surgery on his separated shoulder after all and says he'll try to return for the Giants game on Oct. 21. We'll believe it when see it.

49ers QB Alex Smith (shoulder) reportedly was able to throw from 25 yards on Monday. He says he'll be ready after the week 6 bye. "I pushed it back a little bit," Smith said. "I was throwing about 25 yards. I wasn't gunning them in there. It definitely felt better than yesterday." We're not keen on his fantasy value anymore, even when he's 100%, but the Niners are still in the hunt at 2-3 (2-1 in the division). They need him back.

49ers QB Alex Smith sustained a separated shoulder on the 3rd play of the game vs. Seattle. He won't be back until week 10 at the earliest. Trent Dilfer replaced him and got blitzed senselessly by his ex-Seattle teammates. He was sacked 5 times and threw 2 INTs (and should have a 3rd INT). Dilfer will start for the next 5-6 games unless the 49ers throw in the towel and give Shaun Hill (Maryland) a try.

The Chronicle reports: "On a scale of one to six, Alex Smith has a Grade 3 separation of his throwing shoulder, meaning the ligaments connecting his collarbone to his shoulder blade are torn. No surgery is planned." He's out for the season. The 49ers gave him $24 million up front to sign in 2005 so they won't put him back out there in December, if/when he was back in 8 weeks.

49ers HC Mike Nolan named rookie 1st-round pick Joe Staley as the new starting right tackle over Kwame Harris. "Starting positions on our team are earned," said Nolan. "Both Joe and Kwame (Harris) had outstanding camps. It was a very close competition. Joe was more consistent." This is not a big deal because if Staley fails they can stick the experienced Harris right back in. And Staley might just be terrific...

Gene Wojciechowski of ESPN.com writes: "Chic 2007 NFC pick San Francisco isn't ready yet. Let the 49ers finish .500 or better (and they haven't done that since 2002) before we start crowning them."

The AP reports the San Francisco 49ers have agreed in principle on a contract for 28th overall pick OT Joe Staley. It's expected to be a 5-year deal. We're guessing the 6'5/305-lb rookie will get about $6 million guaranteed. The 49ers gave away their 2008 1st-round pick to move back into the late 1st-round to get Staley, so he better deliver. We slotted the Niners' O-line at a frisky 7th in our Offensive Line Rankings last month.

The NFL announced the 32 compensatory draft slots in the 2007 Draft. The San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, and Oakland Raiders were the only teams to get 3rd-rounders, each adding a pick at the end of the round (selections 96, 97, 98, & 99, respectively).

49ers QB Alex Smith looked a little flaky in the 1st half vs. Seattle, drawing a few barbs from Cris Collinsworth, but in the 2nd half he came alive. A 54-yard bomb to Arnaz Battle (off an audible) flipped the field position, and resulted in an 11-play drive that ended with a TD toss to TE Vernon Davis. The 54-yard pass was a frozen rope that traveled 60 air-yards in a hurry, a la Randall Cunningham or Jeff George. In the last 5 minutes of the game Smith threw another TD to Frank Gore and then added a rub-it-in TD scamper off a bootleg. He finished with 162 passing yards & 3 total TDs. It was Smith's first multi-pass TD game since week 6... but you can bet they will occur more often next year. When both Gore and Davis are healthy this offense becomes dynamic.

Saints DE Will Smith (knee), LB Mark Simoneau (hand), and CB Fred Thomas were all limited Thursday, and all missed Wednesday's practice entirely. This defense is beat up. It's cause for us to slip 49ers QB Alex Smith into the rankings. See the Updated Weekly List...

Packers CB Charles Woodson (shoulder) missed Wednesday's practice. Say what you want about him (okay, Peyton Manning deserved that Heisman) but Woodson has been playing through all sorts of injuries, and playing well. He'll start vs. the 49ers.

Seahawks Insider blog reports CB Kelly Jennings "hurt his knee in [Thursday's] practice and did not return." Starting CB Kelly Herndon also sat out Thursday's practice with a sore hamstring. Seattle will likely move safety Jordan Babineaux to nickel if Jennings can't go but it's not their ideal plan.

The San Francisco 49ers will face a travel-weary Minnesota defense without MLB Napoleon Harris (wrist) and possibly their best defensive lineman, Kevin Williams (ankle). 49ers QB Alex Smith is a fine starter in 12-team leagues this week.

49ers LT Jonas Jennings and LG Larry Allen are healthier after the bye and both should start together for the first time in 6 weeks. Jennings missed time with a finger injury and Allen had a sprained MCL in his left knee. Good timing with the Bears coming up. After week 8 Smith has a string of somewhat friendlier defenses on the slate.

49ers LT Jonas Jennings had surgery Monday on his pinky finger but is expected to play vs. San Diego. "He'll be fine," said HC Mike Nolan, though he didn't sound enthused.

49ers LG Larry Allen (knee) has practiced two days in a row for the first time in a month. Good news for Alex Smith as he prepares for San Diego's NT Jamal Williams to attempt 2nd-degree battery. However, LT Jonas Jennings (finger) is iffy after undergoing a surgical procedure Monday...

We're monitoring the 49ers O-line closer than we have in years, simply because this offense could be a fantasy point-making factory. Last Sunday vs. the Rams LG Larry Allen sat out with a left knee injury. LT Jonas Jennings was out with a sore ankle. Allen will be back in Week 5, Jennings probably back this week. Fill-in starters Adam Snyder and Tony Wragge both played very well. RG Justin Smiley dislocated his left shoulder in the 3rd quarter but stayed in the game. It's obvious this 49ers unit, a "sleeper" in our preseason O-line rankings, is buying into what HC Mike Nolan is selling. Note: 3 of the 49ers' next 4 games are at home before the Week 7 bye.

49ers center Jeremy Newberry will have season-ending knee surgery and is out for the year. He just couldn't get his knee going again. His replacement will be Eric Heitmann. HC Mike Nolan refuses to let Newberry's absence drag the team down. "Our line is vastly improved," Nolan said. "I like the direction we're going." Frank Gore had one of his best games (108 yards) vs. Houston without Newberry in the lineup last year so maybe they'll be okay. We're more worried about Alex Smith and blitzes, frankly. Newberry was the surveyor who made sure everybody knew what was happening.