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Through the first 23 games of his NFL career, 49ers receiver Jason Hill - and San Francisco native -- caught just one pass for 6 yards and was inactive 11 times.

All that changed in the second half of last season when Arnaz Battle's foot injury gave him the opportunity to get significant playing time as the 49ers' No. 3 receiver. Hill seemingly took advantage of the situation, catching 30 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns.

So much for carrying momentum from one year to the next. Hill thought he might be among the team's final cuts. Well, he made the 49ers' 53-man roster, but he has been a healthy scratch for each of the first three games.

Coach Mike Singletary said Hill's inability to practice during a good portion of the 49ers' offseason program with injuries put him at a disadvantage at the beginning of training camp.

"Jason Hill was injured with a hamstring, a groin, a this, a that and missed a lot of time," Singletary said. "The thing in the National Football League is the things you did the year before is outstanding, it's great, but it only counts last year. Going forward, everybody has to earn that spot."

The 49ers began their on-field preparations for their first GPS game (*-see below) of the season this morning with a brief walk-through. The main practice begins at 12:50 p.m., as the 49ers get ready to face the Seahawks on Sunday in a battle of NFC West unbeatens.

Coach Mike Singletary and some of the players were already available to the media to go over some of the issues . . .