Third receiver Arnaz Battle, the 49ers' leading pass-catcher among team's wideouts, will miss Monday night's game with a foot sprain, coach Mike Singletary just announced.
Battle, tackle Barry Sims (ankle) and safety Dashon Goldson (knee) will not be available because of injuries for the 49ers' Monday night game against the Cardinals.
Battle, who played in 42 consecutive games, has 24 receptions for 318 yards on the season. This should translate into more playing time for second-year player Jason Hill. After Battle's injury two weeks ago, Hill came in and caught a 33-yard pass from Shaun Hill.
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Jonas Jennings is expected to return to practice this week. Jennings or Adam Snyder will start at right tackle. Singletary said he wants to put Snyder at one position and let him play there. Snyder started the first seven games at left guard. There are some in the organization who have thought that Snyder was better-suited to play tackle, rather than guard. Singletary apparently agrees.
Jennings is scheduled for limited work today. He has been out since Sept. 14 with a dislocated shoulder. Defensive end Ray McDonald (knee) is also scheduled for limited work.
Tight end Delanie Walker (elbow) will have a full slate of practice.
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Through the first eight games of last season, Vernon Davis saw 40 passes come his way. And that includes more than two games that he missed with a knee injury. Through the first eight games this season, the 49ers have thrown only 25 passes his way. Davis is on pace to be the target of just 50 passes. He caught 52 passes last season under offensive coordinator Jim Hostler.
Singletary said he hopes Davis will be used more and more as a target in the passing game in the second half of the season, as he gains the trust of QB Shaun Hill. During his infamous postgame rant a couple weeks ago, Singletary said he wasn't sure if Davis would still be the starter.
Well,Singletary is certain now.
"Heck, yeah," Singletary answered when asked if Davis is still the starter. "We do want to win."
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Thanks for the update Matt. With Snyder bumpin out to right tackle, could Rachal possibly be in at guard? And, did the offensive game plan need to "dummie down" at all for S. Hill this week? Thanks again.
Matt-
Someone bound to ask this question, might as well be me. Any chance the 49ers go after Deangelo Hall. We need help in the secondary. However, that may go against McLoughlin's policy of only getting players who do not produce.
Mike - No. No, no, no, HELL no, and no. MeAngelo Fall is TERRIBLE. People, for some reason, THOUGHT he was good in Atlanta... probably because he said he was. Once he went to Oakland, where teams had to choose to throw at him or Asomugha, his overrated skills (or lack thereof) were apparent for all to see.
Actually Mike, signing Hall would be right in line with McCloughan's policy of only getting players who don't produce. Hall was the most overrated player in the league during his time with Atlanta. However, it would be against his policy of only getting "high character" players, whatever that means.
To review - Raiders policy - overpay for guys with character questions who can't produce.
Niners policy - overpay for guys with no character questions who can't produce.
DeAngelina had and will always have character issues written all over him – even bad enough to no longer stick with the Raiders. That's laughable.
I don't buy his excuse either that in Atlanta he was more effective because they played zone where he could freelance, whereas the Raiders were more man to man.
Not man enough apparently.
Hey Matt,
Would you really say this offense is way better than last year? I realize that we put up more yards, but we really haven't seen a dramatic increase in actual POINTS and time of possession hasn't increased drastically. On the hand, turnovers have increase exponentially. It seems like we may put up more points/yards. But when compared to the points our offense indirectly allows the opposing team, the extra point/yds are almost negated.
MATT--Does anyone really expect Jonas Jennings to perform well? He has been absent most of the time with physical problems, and when he has played I watch him and see nothing to recommend him. He does not look like the answer at tackle (and is this another one of those situations where a highly-paid player must be put in just because of money?).
Mike In Michigan If Deangelo produced in Oakland (man to man coverage) he would not have been cut after just 9 weeks into the season he said himself hes only good in zone coverage where he can free roam a bit besides hes a ME guy not a team guy notice how atlanta is doing better with him and vick gone?
I would like the 49ers to get DeAngelo Hall big time on this team. We don't have to pay him a huge fortune, but I bet he'd do GREAT on this team, he can be the #3 CB or heck, we can switch out Harris as #3 CB and let Hall play #2 CB.
I know when JTO is officially gone, we'll be improved.
I hope we stay out of the DeAngelo Hall trap. Our secondary does not look that bad...what we really need to spend money on are pass rushers.
Even if we had 2 Deon Sanders & a Ronnie Lot out there, with all the time the quaterback has to throw, as well as all the huge number of minutes the Defense spends on the field...we would look bad.
DeAngie who?......Are you out of your mind ? ...Will you suggest we get Joe- the- plumber also?....this isn't madden!!!
I agree with Houston, the pass rush is where our defense needs more help. I think the Niners should look at Simeon Rice.
Why do you say that, oneniner? You're on the Alex Smith bandwagon, I thought you'd do cartwheels in getting DeAngelo. Don't tell me you're starting to FLIP FLOP already?
My take on Alex Smith is he hasn't had an opportunity when you had the wrong HC for 4 years, keep changing the OC every year, and then Martz introduces a system that just about takes out a shoulder. There's no telling that Smith had that surgery way too late and it took more time to rehabilitate that shoulder.
Cutting Alex Smith hurts our ability to get a FA and a quality player in the draft. JTO is the easiest to cut.