Arnaz Battle News

After Maurice Jones-Drew rolled through the Jets' defense earlier this month, New York coach Rex Ryan offered this memorable description: "He's a bowling ball with football pads on." Jones-Drew, listed at 5-foot-7, 208 pounds, isn't fat.

The 49ers' fan base might be uncertain about Alex Smith, but Jimmy Raye is not. The 49ers' offensive coordinator was effusive in his praise of the quarterback today.

Although tomorrow is Thanksgiving, the 49ers will be holding practice as normal this week, which means we get the normal injury report and coach press conferences.

I'm working on a story for tomorrow's paper about how a team that says it "hits people in the mouth" acted like a punching bag -- again -- after a 10-day rest.

If it seemed like Michael Lewis was running all over the place on defense for the 49ers, it's because he was.

Passing along a couple of injuries out of Green Bay, where the Packers hold a 23-3 lead over the 49ers at halftime.

Chris Williams has more penalties than any other player on the Bears with five, and his most recent cost him.

He was inactive for the Chicago game with a sore ankle but even when healthy, Josh Morgan will start in place of Bruce and alongside Michael Crabtree .

Al Afalava News: Al Afalava is questionable for Thursday night against the 49ers, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times. [ + ] Impact: Fellow safety Kevin Payne has already been ruled out, so it could be a big night for resurgent Niners quarterback Alex Smith if Afalava is unable to go as well.

In a meager offensive output for the 49ers, the low point came in the third quarter when an athletic quarterback and an offensive line averaging 320 pounds per man could not gain less than a yard.

Isaac Bruce is inactive for tonight's game against Chicago. Expect Michael Crabtree and Josh Morgan to start at wideout for the 49ers and for Jason Hill to take over Bruce's role as the No.

Here's the news for a relatively quiet Wednesday here at 4949. - Mike Singletary said rookie Ricky Jean Francois would replace Demetric Evans in the defensive-line rotation.

The 49ers are a team that likes to run the ball and yet has seven wide receivers on its active roster - three of whom were inactive in Houston.

Brandon Jones might be the latest to give it a go. The wide receiver, inactive for the first three games of the season as he recovered from a shoulder injury, will be active for Sunday's game against the Colts in Indianapolis.

Aaron Rodgers was the big loser on NFL draft day 2005. While top overall pick Alex Smith and a host of other college stars shook hands and took pictures with then-Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, Rodgers sat alone in a pinstripe suit, a forced smile on his face and a weary look in his eye.

He was hit hard but stayed on his feet and scored. Now he's hurt. But Smith looked composed.

It took the desperation of falling behind 21-0 for the 49ers to get going once coach Mike Singletary made the switch to Alex Smith in the second half.

We've had a whole lot of conversation about the budding Alex Smith- Shaun Hill QB controversy that quickly developed yesterday.

During his first three years with the 49ers , Vernon Davis was a familiar target for fans' displeasure because of a pair of hands that at times resembled frying pans for the number of balls that clanged off them.

Texans win . Yay. I think the Houston Texans need to come with some sort of medical warning.