NFL Feature Capsules - NFC: Welcome back, No. 7: Vick returns to Atlanta

ATLANTA — Roddy White looks forward to seeing Michael Vick. Just don’t expect the Falcons receiver to don another T-shirt showing his support for No. 7.

"I’ve got to be locked in," White said Wednesday, breaking into a hearty laugh. "This is a big game for us."

No one is quite sure what kind of reception Michael Vick will get when he returns to the Georgia Dome for the first time since serving 18 months in federal prison for dogfighting. After being out of the league for two seasons, the former Falcons quarterback is now a little-used backup for the Philadelphia Eagles (7-4), who face the Falcons (6-5) Sunday in a crucial matchup of NFC playoff contenders.

Far from the spare part he is now, Vick was one of the league’s most dynamic players during his six years with the Falcons, leading the team to the brink of the Super Bowl after the 2004 season. Some Atlanta fans continue to wear his No. 7 jersey to games, and one group is even planning a welcome home rally for him outside the stadium.

Of course, there will likely be plenty of boos from fans still appalled at the heinous crimes he committed against animals and how much he hurt the franchise that gave him the richest contract in NFL history.

"I don’t really know what’s going to happen," Vick said Wednesday at the Eagles’ training complex. "I know I still enjoy the city. I’ll never forget the fans. I’ll always be true to them. Who knows? I look forward to going back and being in that stadium. That’s going to be like a dream come true, even though I’m on the opposite side."

Back in 2007, on the very day Vick was sentenced to prison, the Falcons played a Monday night game against the New Orleans Saints. White paid tribute to his disgraced friend by wearing a "Free Mike Vick" T-shirt under his jersey, which he pulled up after scoring a touchdown so a national television audience could see the handwritten message — a stunt that drew a $10,000 fine from the NFL.

White has no such plans for Sunday, and there’s been so much turnover on the Falcons’ roster that only a handful of players who took the field during Vick’s tenure are still around. Among the 22 starters, a mere seven are holdovers from No. 7’s era.

"I haven’t been thinking about it. It doesn’t matter to me," said tight end Tony Gonzalez, who’s in his first season with the team. "I know he’s coming back. I’m sure there are some people who are going to welcome him and some people that are not. That’s not my deal. I’m out there to play football."

But Vick still has friends on the team, including White and another receiver, Brian Finneran. Both have stayed in contact with the ex-Atlanta quarterback.

"We’re always texting back and forth," White said. "It’s more about life, what’s going on, things like that. It’s nothing football related."

Have they exchange messages this week? Sure.

"I texted him and said, ‘I look forward to seeing you on Sunday,"’ White said. "He told me, ‘Good luck, get out there and do your thing.’ I think I’m going to text him today and ask for the game plan."

The receiver was only kidding, of course, but his feelings for Vick are genuine. He’s not defending what his former teammate did away from the field, only remembering the good times they had together.

"He welcomed me here, took me under his wing, got me the ball. How could I be mad at the guy?" White asked. "We’re cool, man. Right before he had to go off and do his thing (prison sentence), we used to hang out. We developed a great relationship. We’re still going to be friends, regardless of football."

Vick also speaks from time to time with Falcons owner Arthur Blank, who supported his former star’s re-entry into the league and has continually said he would do anything to make sure he keeps his life on the right track, though he ruled out any chance of Vick ever returning to the Falcons.

"I’ll probably give him a call before I get down to Atlanta," Vick said. "We still have that relationship. I always enjoy speaking with Mr. Blank. He’s a great guy. He’s awesome. He’s done a lot of great things for me, things I’ll never forget. He’s a special person, a person who holds a special place in my heart."

Atlanta broke all ties with its former franchise player by drafting Matt Ryan with the No. 3 overall pick in 2008. The rookie won the starting job right away and led the Falcons too a surprising playoff berth.

In an interesting twist, Ryan won’t be playing Sunday because of a toe injury and Vick figures to get only a few plays for the Eagles, if his role up to now is any indication. The three-time Pro Bowler has 15 carries for 65 yards and is 3 of 9 passing for 6 yards. He has yet to score his first post-prison touchdown though he came close in last weekend’s win over the Redskins, breaking off a 4-yard run to the 1.

Vick would love a chance to make up for his last game at the Georgia Dome, which was Christmas Eve 2006. He had one of the worst games of his Falcons career, completing 9 of 20 passes for 109 yards with two interceptions and running four times for 32 yards in a 10-3 loss to Carolina.

But Vick knows he’s not likely to get on the field for more than a few snaps — quite a letdown for a guy who once dominated in the dome.

"This week is going to be a little tougher than average because I played in that stadium," Vick said. "That’s where I started my career, and I have so many great memories."

He no longer has the ritzy house in a gated suburban community; that was put on the auction block after he went to prison. But Vick still has plenty of ties to Atlanta.

"The majority of my friends are still there in the city, and who knows if I get a chance to visit with a couple of them? My time is going to be very limited, so who knows?" Vick said.

"The primary focus is on the football game."

Subterfuge aside, QB change likely in Carolina

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Panthers were in full secrecy mode Wednesday, with Jake Delhomme hiding his hand in his pocket and coach John Fox talking in circles.

Despite the obstacles, it was hard to ignore the hints that Carolina will have a new quarterback Sunday against Tampa Bay.

Matt Moore practiced with the first team — albeit in a cramped indoor facility because of heavy rain — while an idle Delhomme had his throwing hand wrapped and his index and middle fingers taped together.

Delhomme had been able to keep his job despite a career-high 18 interceptions in 11 games, but his broken finger may finally sideline him and give the untested Moore a chance to get the Panthers (4-7) out of their offensive funk.

Saying he’d be "hard-pressed to grip a football right now," Delhomme wouldn’t rule himself out Sunday as he kept his hand hidden in his pocket to attempt to shield whether the index or middle finger is broken. Fox stuck to his "day-to-day" mantra, but Moore and his teammates were preparing for his first start since 2007.

"I think this is a great opportunity for Matt," receiver Muhsin Muhammad said. "Obviously, we won’t do a lot of the things that Jake does well, but we’ll do the things that Matt does well."

Delhomme has done little well in the worst season of his career. He threw four more interceptions in Sunday’s 17-6 loss to the Jets, the last coming after he banged hands with New York linebacker Calvin Pace on a fourth-down completion. Delhomme said his finger bent toward his pinkie.

Fox said they’ve had no discussions about placing Delhomme on injured reserve, but all signs point toward Moore getting the start against the Buccaneers (1-10).

For many, it will be several weeks too late. Moore has become a fan favorite with Delhomme struggling — even as Moore struggles to prove to the coaching staff that he’s a good decision maker.

"I’m sure there is," Moore replied when asked if he had some persuading to do.

Moore started the season as the third-string quarterback behind Josh McCown. But he saw action in Week 1 against Philadelphia after Delhomme was yanked following four interceptions and a lost fumble and McCown hurt his knee and ankle.

McCown was placed on injured reserve days later, and Moore moved ahead of newly signed journeyman A.J. Feeley as the No. 2 QB. But Fox resisted using him despite Delhomme’s struggles. He’s played in only one other game when Delhomme was briefly shaken up, completing 6 of 12 passes for 63 yards and an interception on the season.

"I guess I’m a puppet. If they want to use me, they’ll use me. If not, I can’t do anything about it," Moore said. "The only thing I can do is be ready."

The 6-foot-3 Moore also claims he’s better than he was when he started three games at the end of the 2007 season as an undrafted rookie from Oregon State. Moore was claimed off waivers after spending training camp in Dallas and was expected to spend the season watching.

Instead Delhomme suffered an elbow injury, David Carr was bad, then got hurt and ancient Vinny Testaverde got hurt, too. Moore, given a limited playbook and showing a lively arm, went 2-1 in close a 7-9 season.

"In ‘07 everything was real quick for me," Moore said. "My first read, if that wasn’t there I’d go to my second read and get the ball out, whether that be throw it way or hitting somebody.

"I think now I’ve kind of developed and learned in most instances you have some time. Work through, find your running back, go to your fourth read, things like that. Whereas earlier, it was not a panic, but wanting to get the ball out quick."

The Panthers would normally try to take pressure off Moore by turning to their running game, that could be an issue Sunday. Running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart and fullback Brad Hoover all missed practice Wednesday. While Stewart has normally taken a day off each week to rest his sore Achilles’ tendon, Williams and Hoover suffered ankle injuries against the Jets.

Backup receiver Dwayne Jarrett (ankle) also sat out, not that it would’ve mattered much for Moore. His first practice with the starting unit came on a 72-yard long, 32-yard wide indoor field with a low ceiling. No deep passes in this workout.

"I wish we were outside just to get some timing down and some proper depths and things like that which we can’t do indoors," Moore said. "But just getting out there, moving around, working with the guys, things like that were good.

"If Jake steps out and I step in, it should look the exact same. That’s what I’m shooting for."

-- Mike Cranston

Aging veterans holding Saints’ defense together

METAIRIE, La. — Darren Sharper said that the New Orleans Saints had about 50 years of combined experience in their defensive backfield during their much-heralded victory over the New England Patriots.

He chuckled when he said it, but he wasn’t exaggerating.

The Saints have overhauled their defensive backfield with a group of veterans that easily could have been dismissed as over the hill.

Chris McAlister and Mike McKenzie were picked up in the past couple weeks to round out a group dealing with injuries to cornerbacks Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer and Leigh Torrence. McKenzie and McAlister have 22 NFL seasons between them and are coming back from knee injuries. The pair joined a unit that includes Sharper and safety Pierson Prioleau, who have 24 seasons between them.

During certain passing situations against the Patriots on Monday night, the four were on the field together along with fourth-year strong safety Roman Harper and rookie cornerback Malcolm Jenkins. Together, that’s 51 seasons.

They were hardly old and slow. Tom Brady was intercepted twice, first by McKenzie, who hadn’t played an NFL game in more than a year because of a fractured right kneecap.

Later, Sharper, a 13-year veteran who began the season as the NFL’s active interception leader, picked off his eighth pass of the season, the 62nd of his career.

"The experience factor was big, especially for last game," Sharper said. "That’s going to carry through for the rest of the season, not only being experienced but being able to play — and being play-makers."

It’s not clear how long it will be before Porter returns from a severe left knee sprain. Greer might be ready to return from his left groin pull Sunday at Washington, but said the Saints appear to be in good shape regardless, based on the way McKenzie and McAlister stepped in.

"They were tremendous. They’ve raised the bar on our cornerback play," Greer said. "I’ve been looking for that veteran corner here, someone I can pick their brain and gain knowledge from. Their presence is going to benefit us and me as a person."

Saints players found McKenzie’s return particularly remarkable. In addition to his interception, he broke up several passes, including a fourth-down throw to Randy Moss when the Patriots were threatening to pull within a touchdown in the third quarter.

The Saints had cut McKenzie in the offseason and weren’t planning to bring him back when they signed McAlister to compensate for Porter’s absence in Week 11.

In the next game at Tampa Bay, Torrence injured his shoulder. It was around that time that McKenzie called coach Sean Payton, leaving him a voice message to the effect that he’d remained in New Orleans during his rehabilitation and would like another shot.

"I had his little sticky note on my desk," Payton said. "I called him back, we brought him in ... and worked him out, and he was in a lot better shape that we expected."

Because defensive coordinator Gregg Williams joined the Saints in the offseason, McKenzie had to learn a new scheme in only a few days.

"Trust me. That just never happens," Harper said. "You come back after not playing over a year, and for you to come back and have an interception, a couple big pass breakups and a couple big stops, for him to go out there and play the way he did, you really don’t see that every day."

At the Saints’ training headquarters on Wednesday, McKenzie escaped into the trainer’s room as reporters converged, smiling and saying he didn’t want to "eat the cheese."

The expression is one Payton uses to advise players against buying the hype over a good performance and instead to focus on what they need to improve.

Yet Payton himself held up McKenzie as an inspiration to the rest of the team during Wednesday morning meetings. He reminded them how McKenzie was having one of his best seasons as a pro in 2007 — with three interceptions, two for touchdowns — before tearing his right anterior cruciate ligament. He came back last season, but played only six games before getting hurt again.

"The only thing that’s kept this guy from being a standout player the last couple years has been injuries," Sharper said of McKenzie. "So you know he can play. He’s back healthy. You saw that last game and he looks like he hasn’t missed a beat."

-- Brett Martel

Brett Favre’s 40-year-old arm holding up just fine

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — When Brett Favre walks into the Minnesota Vikings’ headquarters the day after a game, there is no magic potion or cutting-edge treatment there waiting to get the 40-year-old quarterback ready to play the next week.

It’s not like the opening to the 1970s television show "The Six Million Dollar Man," with team athletic trainer Eric Sugarman telling his staff that "we can rebuild him" as a broken-down Favre lays on an examination table.

For a middle-aged man coming off of surgery, playing the most violent sport around and throwing the ball more than 40 times in some games, it appears that Favre doesn’t do anything special to get from one game to the next. Favre said he puts ice on his shoulder occasionally and does extra stretching "every once in a blue moon."

Other than that, Bionic Brett is keeping up just fine with teammates half his age.

Three times this year, Favre has attempted at least 46 passes in a game, including the victory on Sunday over Chicago when he completed 32 of 48 passes for 392 yards and three touchdowns.

"Not one throw," Favre said Wednesday, knocking on the wooden podium in front of him, "this year where I felt, either after or before, that I went ‘oww.’ I’m probably as surprised as anyone."

Much of that credit goes to Dr. James Andrews, who performed surgery to alleviate the pain on Favre’s injured biceps tendon this summer. But Favre is also playing with a torn rotator cuff in his throwing shoulder, and the Vikings have abandoned their initial plan of running the ball more to keep the pressure off of Favre’s arm.

Favre threw 46 passes in a win over San Francisco in Week 3, 50 in a loss at Pittsburgh three weeks later and 48 against the Bears on Sunday. Opposing defenses continue to load up against Adrian Peterson and the running game, so the Vikings are throwing the ball more than they ever have under coach Brad Childress.

Despite Favre’s advanced age, Childress said there is no special regimen for him to follow.

"He goes through the same strength program everybody else goes through," Childress said. "I think that he is pretty well in tune with his body. ... He is in good enough shape to do it and he’s got the physical movements to be able to do it, and he’s got the arm strength to be able to (throw) a bunch of them."

Favre is second in the league with a 112.1 rating with 24 touchdowns and just three interceptions for the Vikings (10-1), who are right on the heels of the undefeated New Orleans Saints for the best record in the NFC. When he takes the first snap against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday night, Favre will break former Vikings defensive end Jim Marshall’s NFL record of 282 consecutive games played by a position player.

"To be mentioned and to be up there with him is pretty impressive," Favre said. "It’s hard to do. I think that his position is harder because you are hit every time. There are some times where I can hand off and watch."

Marshall appeared at the Vikings’ practice facility in September, a few days after Favre broke his record of consecutive starts (270). Marshall said he is a great admirer of Favre and was happy to see his record in good hands.

"Every defensive lineman that he plays against is trying to hurt him," Marshall said. "That’s a tough way to earn a living."

Not that Favre doesn’t feel the effects of playing more than 300 career games, including the playoffs.

"Legs, back, hips, knees, ankles, other than that, nothing seems to bother me," he deadpanned.

As long as that ageless right arm continues to hold up, that’s all that matters. Favre got off to a great start last year with New York, but the torn biceps tendon contributed to a horrendous finish of nine interceptions and just two touchdowns in the final five games as the Jets tumbled from playoff contention.

"I was going my whole career without anything. Then all of a sudden, just about every throw bothered me," Favre said. "Just coming off biceps surgery, I’m almost 40 years old, I’ve heard, ‘Aw, he won’t hold up.’ But it feels great."

NOTES: RG Anthony Herrera (concussion) and CB Benny Sapp (thumb) did not practice on Wednesday. Sapp said he expects to be ready this week. Herrera missed last week’s game.

-- Jon Krawczynski

Packers not gloating about No. 1 defensive ranking

GREEN BAY, Wis. — OK, so no spontaneous shouts of, "We’re No. 1!" broke out in the Green Bay Packers’ locker room Tuesday.

Packers defensive players aren’t going to pull any muscles patting themselves on the back for the NFL-best 281.5 yards they’ve allowed per game so far this season.

They’re busy preparing for the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night and other statistics indicate they haven’t quite arrived as a defense — they’re only 12th in points allowed, for example.

All that said, inside linebacker Nick Barnett acknowledges that talking about stingy statistics is a lot more fun than last season, when everyone kept asking why the defense kept letting the team down.

"It feels good to be talking about No. 1 and keeping focused and staying focused, and you like to have that rather than, ‘Why is your defense 32nd?"’ Barnett said. "But we’ve got to keep things in perspective. Like I say, you’re not No. 1 unless you end the season No. 1, and we know we’ve got a lot of work ahead of us and still got room to grow."

After their Thanksgiving Day victory at Detroit — just days after season-ending injuries to cornerback Al Harris and outside linebacker Aaron Kampman — the Packers (7-4) have won three straight games to put themselves in good position for an NFC wild-card.

And outside of a second-half letdown in a narrow victory over San Francisco on Nov. 22, the defense has led the way. It is showing signs that new coordinator Dom Capers’ vision is taking shape after last season’s miserable performance led head coach Mike McCarthy to replace most of his defensive assistants.

The Packers have been causing turnovers and stopping the run fairly well all year. And after two ugly losses to Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings, their pass rush is beginning to come around and they’re coming up with more stops on third down.

Players say they’re simply getting more comfortable with Capers’ 3-4 scheme.

"Everybody’s getting used to each other, trusting each other, knowing where to be and being there," nose tackle Ryan Pickett said. "That’s pretty much it. We just take care of our responsibilities. The scheme is a great scheme Coach Capers has us in. We’re just playing ball, man. We’ve got a lot of players and it’s like we’re coming together."

Defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins said the Packers had to go through some growing pains with the new scheme early in the season.

"I think the linebackers understand where the d-line’s going to be, what we’re going to do," Jenkins said. "We’re understanding more where the linebackers are going to be, especially the outside linebackers. Just everything. The team’s starting to grow within the system, understand it a bit more."

And while the Packers’ best defensive player is a veteran — cornerback Charles Woodson, who has seven interceptions — they’re receiving significant contributions from rookies Clay Matthews III, B.J. Raji and Brad Jones.

"If they didn’t have the ability they wouldn’t be here, so we know they’ve got the ability," Jenkins said. "It’s just all about being able to put it out there in a game, transfer what you do in practice to the game, and they’ve done a great job of being able to do that. You have to give them all the respect in the world for that."

Matthews became a consistent contributor early in the season, and Raji has been getting more snaps as he recovers from an ankle injury. Now Green Bay’s getting significant playing time out of Jones, a seventh-round pick out of Colorado who has taken the majority of snaps opposite Matthews at outside linebacker since Kampman’s injury.

Jones said the rookies don’t consider their contributions anything out of the ordinary.

"I hate speaking for all the rookies but I think we’ve got a consensus when we talk," Jones said. "It’s not like we feel like we’re a separate group in the team. It just feels like we’re on the team, we’re part of the team, we’re contributing, we’re making plays, we’re doing our thing."

And don’t mention the dreaded "rookie wall" to Raji, who doesn’t expect to slow down in the final month of the season.

"What is this ‘rookie wall’ stuff?" Raji said, making quotation marks with his fingers. "I can’t speak about something I’ve never been through."

-- Chris Jenkins

Redskins’ ‘3 Horsemen’ finally show their stuff

ASHBURN, Va. — The Washington Redskins’ wait-and-see class of sophomore second-rounders finally had a game worth seeing.

Receivers Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly and tight end Fred Davis combined for 10 catches for 139 yards and one touchdown in the 27-24 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. It was the best collective effort to date from the much-criticized trio previously best known for injuries, underperformance and an absent alarm clock.

Maybe they’re not busts after all, but simply late bloomers. In the last five games, Davis alone has 20 catches, benefiting from the season-ending ankle injury to Chris Cooley.

"We’re like the Three Horsemen," Thomas said Wednesday. "Just stay tough and keep riding, just keep riding."

Much was expected from Thomas, Davis and Kelly after the Redskins selected them with the 34th, 48th and 51st picks in last year’s draft, but Thomas and Kelly failed the conditioning test before their rookie training camp.

Thomas also had trouble mastering the play book, while Kelly was hampered by a knee injury. Davis was stuck behind Cooley and was most noted for oversleeping and missing a minicamp practice.

The threesome combined for just 21 catches as rookies, had slow starts again this year and were looking like another potential embarrassment for front office chief Vinny Cerrato.

Then Davis got his big chance when Cooley went down with a broken ankle against Philadelphia on Oct. 26. Davis finished the game and caught eight passes, including his first NFL touchdown. He had four receptions and another touchdown in the rematch against the Eagles.

"He was a guy that was nonexistent when we talked about catching balls, and he’s really becoming a factor," coach Jim Zorn said. "As guys get more time and they start playing faster, then all of a sudden you can see these schemes, these concepts, are harder to cover."

Kelly said Davis is proving what the threesome can do when given a chance.

"I think if we keep getting consistent opportunities to make plays, then we will be consistent players," Kelly said. "That is what it is all about. Nobody would have ever saw what Fred could do. . . . Now that he is getting the opportunities, look what he is doing."

Zorn said Thomas and Kelly still need to work on running better pass routes, but they are finally making plays.

"They’re starting to show flashes of being the receivers that we want them to be," Zorn said, "and they’ll continue to come on."

Thomas caught four passes for 46 yards on Sunday, while Kelly added two for 50 yards. Thomas also averaged 23.5 yards on four kickoffs, subbing for Rock Cartwright while Cartwright concentrates on running back duties.

Maybe production was overdue, but Thomas feels the earlier criticism was premature.

"I knew it would come soon or later. I just bit my lips. I knew I would showcase what I could do eventually," Thomas said. "I wouldn’t say people were wrong for being impatient. I was impatient. I wanted to be out there making plays. Right now is just the right time for us."

NOTES: CB DeAngelo Hall (knee) is doubtful for this week’s game against New Orleans. RB Clinton Portis (concussion) remains out despite returning to the practice field in a limited role. DT Albert Haynesworth (ankle) was limited in practice. ... The Redskins signed WR Keith Eloi to the practice squad.

Singletary calls for better tackling from 49ers

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Tackling is the theme of the week for Mike Singletary.

In August, Singletary began his first training camp as 49ers head coach with intense tackling drills. His players were in full pads from the start, hitting each other in nearly every practice.

By the time camp broke, they were beat. And by midseason, some were feeling beat up.

Now, improved tackling is what Singletary is calling for from San Francisco’s defense heading into a key NFC West game at Seattle on Sunday. But the 49ers are no longer practicing it, having quit wearing pads about two weeks ago after some players made the suggestion to Singletary.

It’s not as if the tackling has been poor — the Niners’ rushing defense ranks fifth in the NFL. Yet Singletary, a defensive-minded guy to the core considering he’s a Hall of Fame linebacker, is always looking for more from this talented veteran unit.

"We have some guys, they don’t just want to tackle, they want to blow people up," Singletary said. "We’ve got to do a better job breaking down and just making the tackle."

Singletary named safety Dashon Goldson as one of those players who always wants the big hit. Goldson didn’t deny it, saying "I take my shots."

But he said the defensive players need to be smart about doing so, taking proper angles and picking their opportunities wisely. Goldson is in his first season starting at free safety for the 49ers (5-6) and is second on the team with 73 tackles. He also has two interceptions, one sack and a forced fumble.

"It’s all about attitude," Goldson said of the art of tackling. "It’s not really a concern. We just know we’ve missed a few. We make a lot, too. We make a lot more than we miss, so that’s always good."

Linebacker Patrick Willis has a team-leading 107 tackles, including a hit on Matt Hasselbeck in Week 2 that knocked the Seahawks’ quarterback out of the game with broken ribs and a back injury. He still hasn’t completely healed even though he only missed the next two games.

"It’s a focus every week. If you want to be a great defense, tackling is the No. 1 thing you have to do," Willis said. "For whatever reason, we’re men and we know that in order to have a good defense and to play good defense, you have to tackle. That’s something we have to take upon ourselves. We can’t work on it during the week and kill each other and tackle each other, but we can work on it by how we go to the ball, good feet, just small things we can do to help us during the season."

Seattle coach Jim Mora knows the challenges of trying to improve tackling at this stage of the season. It doesn’t make sense to practice it, he said.

"You can’t, because you risk injuring a player who’s very valuable to you," Mora said. "This time of the year some players are beat up and need some recovery time. A lot of tackling is just the will to do it as well. You hope you have the right guys."

San Francisco has a relentless bunch that prides itself on getting after the quarterback. In Sunday’s 20-3 win over the Jaguars, linebackers Manny Lawson and Parys Haralson each had a second-half sack on Jacksonville quarterback David Garrard that led to a lost fumble.

The 49ers’ 25 sacks so far are only five shy of their total from last season, when their 30 sacks ranked 16th in the NFL. Yet the players know it’s not always about making the big play, but often times just getting the routine stop when it matters.

"Since it’s this late in the season we’re not really going to be doing much practicing hitting, because bodies are sore," cornerback Dre’ Bly said. "Just try to focus on wrapping up as much as we can. We’re going to be playing some tough backs. We have to do a better job of tackling. Tackling is key, especially late in the season when you’re playing cold games. When it’s cold outside, teams enjoy running the football a lot."

NOTES: Goldson had his sore right hand dipped in paraffin wax and placed in a plastic bag to keep it warm. "Like a nail salon," he said with a grin. ... Haralson is nursing a bruised thumb he said isn’t serious. The other injuries: DT Kentwan Balmer (shoulder sprain), WR Josh Morgan (bruised hip), WR Arnaz Battle (leg strain), RB Michael Robinson (stinger) and WR Isaac Bruce (ankle).

-- Janie McCauley

Backup QB Boller aims to eliminate mistakes

ST. LOUIS — If Kyle Boller is auditioning for a new deal with the St. Louis Rams, he has yet to impress.

The backup quarterback is getting extended playing opportunity, perhaps the rest of the season, given that Marc Bulger is on crutches with a fractured left shin bone. But Boller realizes the game-changing mistakes that have marred his play must be weeded out.

Boller threw two interceptions last week, including one on a tipped pass that was returned for the go-ahead touchdown in last weekend’s 27-17 loss to the Seahawks, and is responsible for seven turnovers in only 14 quarters. His other pick Sunday was in the end zone, negating a scoring opportunity.

"I wish a ball would pop 10 feet in the air and hit the guy in stride for a touchdown," Boller said Wednesday. "That’s the way it goes. You have to protect the ball but I’m still going to go out there and try to make plays."

Boller, who landed with a one-year free agent contract after sitting out 2008 with a shoulder injury in Baltimore, isn’t going to change. Despite the mounting mistakes, he said there’s no way he’ll go conservative this weekend at Chicago when he makes his second straight start.

"I’m not going to play scared, that’s when you do turn the ball over," he said. "I don’t foresee that being a problem."

The Rams (1-10) pretty much have to count on Boller improving, since rookie Keith Null is the only other quarterback on the roster. Coach Steve Spagnuolo doesn’t believe Null, a sixth-round pick, is ready and would just as soon he not play this season.

"I’m sure if you ask Kyle, certainly the second one, he’d like to have a better throw," Spagnuolo said of the interceptions by Seattle. "I know Kyle would like to have both of them back."

The coach has been able to say that a lot. Four of Boller’s turnovers have been returned for touchdowns, and two came in the red zone.

Of course, it’s not all the quarterback’s fault. The Rams have been inexperienced at wide receiver all season and the offensive line was minus three starters much of the game against Seattle. Boller was constantly on the run and was sacked four times, so he’s had to work through more than the usual soreness.

"Sometimes your best throws are when you get hit and you lay on the ground and hopefully they’re applauding when you play at home," Boller said. "It was a little harder this week, definitely."

Center Jason Brown is expected to make his 56th consecutive start, although he grudgingly missed the first practice of his career on Wednesday with a sprained right knee.

"It’s a humbling experience," Brown said. "I did not want to miss this practice, not at all, but it’s all about doing the smart thing."

Guard Richie Incognito also is expected back after missing four games with a sprained ligament in his right foot. Running back Steven Jackson missed practice Wednesday but could go on Thursday, although he’s likely to again be short of 100 percent.

Boller can’t worry about that stuff.

"You just keep fighting, that’s all you can do," he said. "You try to be optimistic and still make it fun, and work. We’re pros, that’s what we’re supposed to do."

The team also said it will wait until tackle Jason Smith (concussion) feels better before administering another baseline test. Spagnuolo said the rookie, who has failed two tests, was still feeling symptoms. Fullback Mike Karney (neck) did not practice and could miss a second straight game.

-- R.B. Fallstrom