Monday, December 01, 2008

By BEE NEWS SERVICES

last updated: August 29, 2008 01:44:40 AM

Like most young receivers, Josh Morgan grew up a Jerry Rice fan.

Turns out, the feeling is mutual.

Rice said Wednesday that he has been impressed by the 49ers' sixth-round draft pick out of Virginia Tech.

"I'm expecting him to do some great things this year," Rice said.

Morgan has nine catches for 182 yards in the 49ers' first three exhibition games. An illness has kept him off the field this week and he will not play tonight in the exhibition finale against the San Diego Chargers at Candlestick Park.

Still, Rice has seen plenty.

"He's been very productive and he has a big frame," he said of the 6-foot, 219-pound Morgan.

He also likes the way the rookie made use of the extra playing time he got because of injuries to other receivers.

"It was a great opportunity for him," Rice said. "I think it would be a great opportunity for me, too."

He was joking -- presumably -- about another comeback. Rice turns 46 on Oct. 13.

San Francisco coach Mike Nolan said the starting unit will play one series to one quarter against the Chargers.

RAIDERS -- A shorter preseason and more real games? Mike Holmgren is all for it. Lane Kiffin's not so sure.

Holmgren's backup Seattle Seahawks host Kiffin's reserve Oakland Raiders tonight in the preseason finale. That's the official description. It's really a final, three-hour tryout of kids for two beat-up teams that would rather not be playing another fake game.

Seahawks backup quarterback Seneca Wallace will be handing off a lot to Justin Forsett. The rookie seventh-round draft pick from Cal needs to rebound from a bad game against the Chargers to survive Saturday's final cuts to the 53-man regular-season limit.

For Oakland, starting quarterback JaMarcus Russell won't play. Backup Andrew Walter will start and Marques Tuiasosopo may relieve. Banged up star cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha won't play, either. Pro Bowler Shane Lechler won't punt. If rookie running back Darren McFadden, the fourth overall pick, is on the field, it won't be for long.

TEXANS -- For the first time since injuring his neck and spine last week, Houston receiver Harry Williams walked by himself Thursday morning at Presbyterian Hospital in Dallas.

THURSDAY'S GAMES -- David Carr threw touchdown passes to Darcy Johnson and Sinorice Moss to lead the New York Giants to a 19-14 victory over the Patriots at Giants Stadium. Neither Tom Brady nor Eli Manning played as the teams took no chances with their quarterbacks. ... Atlanta edged host Baltimore 10-9 as the top two quarterbacks selected in this year's draft started for vastly different reasons. Matt Ryan played two series to get a feel for being Atlanta's starting quarterback. Joe Flacco started for Baltimore because of illness and injury to the other quarterbacks. Ryan, the third overall pick, went 2-for-7 for 17 yards. ...

Brett Favre slung a few passes during pregame drills and called it a night. He put a green cap on and stood on the sideline, arms folded, jersey slightly untucked and safe from harm. Jesse Chatman had 180 total yards and scored the go-ahead touchdown for the Jets, who defeated host Philadelphia 27-20. ... Cincinnati scored touchdowns on its first two series and never gave the host Colts a chance to rally in a 27-7 win. Backup quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was 5-for-8 for 35 yards with one TD pass to lead the Bengals. ...

Jacksonville defeated host Washington 24-3, holding the Redskins' starters to 14 total yards in three first-quarter drives. ... Detroit beat host Buffalo 14-6 -- the Bills played only one starter, safety Ko Simpson. ... Jeff Reed kicked his fourth field goal of the game -- his eighth in less than a week -- a 43-yarder on the last play, and host Pittsburgh defeated Carolina 19-16. ...

Brady Quinn looked better prepared for the season opener in case Derek Anderson (concussion) isn't ready, leading host Cleveland on two scoring drives in a 16-10 loss to Chicago. Quinn finished 7-of-9 for 65 yards in his two series. ... Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took the rest of the night off after throwing a 68-yard TD pass to Greg Jennings on his first snap in host Green Bay's 23-21 loss to Tennessee. ...

Terrell Owens and freshly reinstated Adam "Pacman" Jones didn't even bother to put on their football pants, but host Dallas still defeated Minnesota 16-10. ... Ronnie Brown returned from a thumb injury and ran 12 times for 47 yards and powered his way into the end zone on a 1-yard run to help Miami top host New Orelans 14-10. ... Dexter Jackson returned a punt 83 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and the Tampa Bay backups beat host Houston's 16-6. ... Brodie Croyle directed two quick touchdown drives against St. Louis' reserves and host Kansas City prevailed 21-17.

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