O'Sullivan leaves Niners no choice - he'll start vs. Chicago

SANTA CLARA — The 49ers have come so far with quarterback J.T. O’Sullivan that it might be difficult for them to turn back now.

O’Sullivan is scheduled to make his third consecutive start of the 49ers’ exhibition season, but coach Mike Nolan on Monday stopped short of declaring him the starter for the regular season.

The 49ers resume their exhibition season Thursday night against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.

All signs point toward O’Sullivan, whose practice time since Aug. 6 has been exclusively with the 49ers’ first team — a time that has included 11 practices and two exhibition games.

Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft, has not taken any snaps with the first-team offense since a joint practice with the Raiders on Aug. 4. If offensive coordinator Mike Martz and the 49ers are preparing to get Smith ready for the regular season opener on Sept. 7 against the Arizona Cardinals, they have a funny way of showing it.

When asked what Smith can do to win the starting job, Nolan said, “Just keep playing well. He’s doing a good job. All three of the guys are doing well. Some are getting more reps than others, but I’ve been pleased with all three of them.

“I do feel confident we have three guys who can win games. I know two of them can because I’ve played with them in the past. And we’ll continue to take a look at J.T.”

Nolan still maintains that Shaun Hill is part of the three-way quarterback competition. Hill has seen limited practice time since Aug. 7, and he worked as the third-string quarterback in both exhibition games.

None of the three quarterbacks was available to the media after Nolan announced his plan for Thursday’s game.

O’Sullivan started the first two exhibition games, including the 49ers’ 34-6 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday. O’Sullivan has completed 13 of 25 passes for 225 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions.

“It’s certainly given me no reason to take him out right now,” Nolan said.

Nolan said he wants to keep the rotation at quarterback the same because the 49ers have a short week to prepare for the game against the Bears.

JENNINGS INJURED

Oft-injured right tackle Jonas Jennings underwent surgery on a broken knuckle on his right hand, Nolan said. Jennings will miss Thursday’s game, but he might be able to return to action in the exhibition finale against the Chargers on Aug. 29.

Jennings has been plagued by injuries since signing with the 49ers in 2005 as a free agent. He has started just 21 games the past three seasons.

Receivers Arnaz Battle (hamstring), Bryant Johnson (hamstring) and Ashley Lelie (calf), as well as guard David Baas (pec), running back Michael Robinson (knee) and safety Lewis Baker (thigh) will not play this week.

Cornerback Tarell Brown (hip) might be available for Thursday’s game, Nolan said. Also, fourth-string quarterback Kyle Wright did not practice due to knee swelling.

EXTRA POINTS

Linebacker Takeo Spikes was encouraged with his eight snaps of action in his 49ers debut on Saturday. He was credited with one tackle. He said the most difficult part is just getting lined up properly, as he learns a new defense.

“The alignment is the key,” Spikes said. “Once you get lined up, everything else falls into place.”

Spikes was not responsible for leaving Packers tight end Donald Lee wide open in the end zone on a play that resulted in Lee’s dropped pass. It was a zone coverage. Nate Clements and Michael Lewis were responsible for that zone on the field. Spikes is in competition for the starting “ted” linebacker job against Jeff Ulbrich.

Receiver Jason Hill credited his health for enabling him to get involved in the offense Saturday for the first time. He caught two passes for 47 yards and added a 14-yard gain on an end around. Hill missed a couple practices earlier in the week with a groin strain.

“I’m finally able to run fast and feel good and able to let it loose a little bit,” Hill said.

Hill might have had an opportunity for a touchdown, too. He was open in the back of the end zone. But Smith’s throw was high and Hill did not get very high in trying to go after it.

“He got a little anxious in the pocket and maybe I should’ve kept running my route,” Hill said. “I haven’t seen it on film, so I don't know what coach is going to say about it. But at the time, I thought I was wide open.

“It just felt like I wasn’t supposed to go over there. It felt like I was supposed to sit right there and the ball was supposed to be on me right there. That’s what it felt like.”

You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at 521-5492 or matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com