SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Ken Dorsey will get his second start
of the season Sunday for the San Francisco 49ers, who hope their
fourth quarterback change in six games will breathe some life into
their floundering offense.
The 49ers (2-7) haven't scored a touchdown in 39 straight
possessions -- more than three games -- and have just eight offensive
TDs all season. None of the four quarterbacks on their roster has
thrown a touchdown pass this season, and the offense has managed
just 1,957 yards in nine games.
Dorsey went 7-of-18 for 40 yards in his first start against
Tampa Bay, but left in the fourth quarter with a sprained ankle.
Cody Pickett finished San Francisco's win over the Buccaneers and
started the next two games, but is just 14-of-35 for 140 yards and
two interceptions.
No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith is expected to be Dorsey's backup,
but isn't ready for a full week of practice after missing the last
three games with strained ligaments in his knee. Smith, who threw
five interceptions in his two starts before getting hurt, has a
17.5 passer rating -- even worse than Pickett's 28.3 and Dorsey's
47.0.
"Hopefully we can get back to having some fun and scoring some
points," said Dorsey, who started seven games for San Francisco
last season. "It's not a competition. As a group, we all have a
lot of respect for each other. We all like each other. We prepare
together and go into every game together."
Tim Rattay, who was traded to Tampa Bay during the Niners' bye
week, threw all five of San Francisco's TD passes this season. The
49ers have managed just 701 yards in four games since his
departure, and Joe Nedney's 10 field goals are their only points in
the last three games.
The 49ers also promoted rookie Adam Snyder to the starting
lineup at left tackle, replacing struggling veteran Anthony
Clement.
Snyder, a star left tackle at Oregon who started at right guard
for the 49ers last week, will attempt to fill in for Jonas
Jennings, the $36 million free-agent signee who played just parts
of three games before going on injured reserve last week with a
shoulder injury.
Rookie Ben Emanuel, a fifth-round pick waived by Carolina and
signed to San Francisco's practice squad last month, will start at
safety in place of Tony Parrish, who's out for the year with a
broken leg.