Sims survives, and now he starts

SANTA CLARA — Barry Sims has started 127 games in his 11-year NFL career, and last week was not one of them.

The only difference was one play — the first one — and a week’s worth of preparation.

Still, Sims played very well after taking over for 49ers left tackle Joe Staley, who was injured on the first play of the 49ers’ 18-14 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Staley is expected to miss six weeks with a right knee sprain, which means Sims could be in the lineup for a while.

“Once you’ve felt like you’ve made it and arrived, that’s when they kick you out,” Sims said Wednesday as the 49ers began preparations to face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. “I’m always trying to prove to people that I can still play, and I want to keep playing.”

Sims arrived at training camp this summer without a roster spot wrapped up. The 49ers signed free-agent tackle Marvel Smith in the offseason. But Smith opted for retirement as he dealt with increased pain from recent back surgeries.

And Sims played well enough to win a roster spot, even after the team signed veteran Tony Pashos just days before the start of the regular season.

Now Pashos is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Staley might not return until mid-December. That means Sims will be an important part of the 49ers’ drive for the organization’s first playoff berth since 2002.

“I think that every year, even when I was a full-time starter, there are no guarantees in this business,” Sims said. “If you’re not performing, you find yourself looking for a job. That was very clear by what coach (Mike) Singletary said and the type of guys he was looking for. Coming into camp, I was aware I needed to perform or I wasn’t going to make the team. That’s how I approached each day.”

Sims passed his first test, as he did a nice job against Colts sack artist Dwight Freeney. Although Freeney recorded a sack, it came on a stunt when he got past 49ers running back Frank Gore. Sims said he stuck to his technique. On the times when there was help for Sims, he said he knew where it was and approached his matchup with Freeney accordingly.

On Sunday, Sims will match up against Titans defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who recorded 12½ sacks in 2005 and 12 sacks in 2007.

* Staley, cornerback Nate Clements (shoulder) and defensive lineman Demetric Evans (shoulder) will not play Sunday. Tackle Chris Patrick and rookie defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois will suit up for their first regular-season games with the 49ers, Singletary said.

Safety Reggie Smith, who has been out with a severe groin strain since Sept. 27, will practice this week and might be available for the game.

* Outside linebacker Parys Haralson led the 49ers with eight sacks last season and signed a lucrative contract extension in the offseason. But Haralson has gone six games without a sack and has just one for the season.

“Parys Haralson will do just fine, that’s just where we are right now,” Singletary said. “Max protection is one of the main things that’s happened for all of our guys. But we’ll still find a way to get there.”

For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at http://blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco via e-mail at matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com.