Arnaz Battle News

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.

Rookie Michael Crabtree had a good NFL debut in a losing effort to the Texans. In a game where all the attention was going to be focused on a 49ers player making his season debut, it seemed unlikely that we would be talking about QB Alex Smith rather than rookie WR Michael Crabtree.

Michael Crabtree, the San Francisco 49ers first round draft pick, watches the 49ers game against the Atlanta Falcons on the sidelines at Candlestick Park on October 11, 2009 in San Francisco, California.

Mark Roman, who entered this season on the bench after 43 consecutive starts, is back in the lineup.

The San Francisco 49ers will have a tough assignment this week in containing the Houston Texans offense.

What's wrong with this picture? Last year, 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who is to passing what Colonel Sanders is to poultry, made do with five wide receivers on the active roster.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat wonders what it means for Shaun Hill when 49ers coach Mike Singletary says the team needs better play at quarterback.

Locker-room politics was the hot topic at 49ers headquarters Wednesday, specifically how veterans would react to the news that a rookie who missed every snap of a taxing offseason suddenly is on the verge of starting.

Return man Allen Rossum, who was a healthy scratch last week, again is inactive.

As has been pointed out in a FanShot and in comments earlier , Mike Singletary announced during his press conference that Allen Rossum was given his release.

There's nothing wrong with the 49ers' offense that a little offense couldn't cure.

Walker returns kick to the 17 ... Hill finds room, passes to Morgan for 12 yards ... Hill hits Walker for 39 yards ... 1st and 10 from ATL 32 ... 1st and 10: Coffee runs for two ... 2nd and 8 from 30: Nobody blocks DE, Hill has to throw the ball away ... Hill inc.