Lloyd practices, but 49ers still thin at WR

[Guest Moose Knuckle Ball Four]

SANTA CLARA -- The 49ers' banged-up receiving corps was bolstered Friday by Brandon Lloyd's return to practice, but Arnaz Battle and Otis Amey remain sidelined, leaving the team with only four wideouts going into Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.

 

Lloyd had missed Thursday's practice because of a bout of hip and back soreness but was listed as probable. Neither Amey, listed as doubtful with an ankle injury, nor Battle, listed as questionable with a knee injury, was expected to play, coach Mike Nolan said.

 

Quarterback Cody Pickett, the backup to Ken Dorsey for the Tampa Bay game, could be pressed into duty if a play requires a fifth receiver or an injury knocks out of action any of the other four receivers, Nolan said.

 

Pickett hasn't played the position in the game, but he split time between wide receiver and safety in practice for most of the year, helping the 49ers' starters prepare for games as a member of the scout team.

 

"He knows our plays," Nolan said. "It's different to understand it from a quarterback's perspective and then do it from a wide receiver's, but he understands it enough to go out and run it."

 

However, Pickett's primary obligation remains backing up Dorsey, who is starting in place of the injured Alex Smith. Pickett also was moved up to No. 2 and resumed taking practice snaps at quarterback this week for the first time this season.

 

Nolan said Smith, who strained two ligaments in his right knee last week at Washington, may suit up for the Tampa Bay game as the third or emergency quarterback. However, Smith hasn't practiced at all this week and Nolan left open the possibility that rookie wide receiver Rasheed Marshall, a former college quarterback, could step in to run the offense in an emergency.

 

Extra point

 

Nolan had hoped Jonas Jennings would be back this week from a shoulder injury, but the left tackle's return was put on hold again. Jennings tore the labrum in his right shoulder Sept. 25 and he hasn't played since then. He has been undergoing therapy to try to get the shoulder stabilized to the point he could play using a protective harness. The only other option is to repair it surgically, which would finish him for the season.