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Our NFC West chat won't start til 1 p.m. ET, but one of the questions waiting in the queue caught my attention already. "Let's face it, everyone is worried about the 49ers' defensive line," Andrew from Minnesota wrote. "I think, however, most peop...

The San Francisco 49ers have signed nose tackle Ian Williams to a two-year contract extension.

divisional round inactives

Mel Kiper Jr. has released his initial 2013 NFL mock draft for the first round. We discussed his St. Louis Rams, Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks projections previously. We round out the conversation with a look at Kiper's thoughts for the 49e...

Justin Smith's participation in individual drills at practice Thursday is the strongest sign yet that the San Francisco 49ers' injured defensive lineman could play in the team's divisional-round playoff game Jan. 12. Smith has a triceps injury. He...

The San Francisco 49ers have not drafted a true 3-4 defensive lineman since 2009. They've taken outside linebackers such as Aldon Smith. They've taken a college defensive end and turned him into a fullback (Bruce Miller). 2005-2012 49ers D...

SAN FRANCISCO -- A few thoughts after the San Francisco 49ers named Alex Smith, LaMichael James, Brandon Jacobs, A.J. Jenkins, Joe Looney, Trenton Robinson and Ian Williams inactive for Monday night: We knew Smith would not play. Seeing his name ...

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Two of the running backs the San Francisco 49ers named inactive Monday night would be starting if available to the opposition. Such is the injury imbalance for the 49ers and Arizona Cardinals. Running backs Brandon Jacobs and...

A periodic look at which players are playing and when, continuing with the San Francisco 49ers' defense, which has spent much of the season using its nickel package: 2012 San Francisco 49ers Defense: Snap Counts Rank Player Pos. 1 ...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Brandon Jacobs' regular-season debut with the San Francisco 49ers will wait at least another week. The team named Jacobs among its inactive players against Buffalo on Sunday. Jacobs isn't really needed at this point. So, even t...

Our two-day look at NFC West rosters continues with projections for the San Francisco 49ers' defense and special teams. Defensive linemen (10) Average number kept since 2003: 7.0 Safest bets: Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Isaac Sopoaga, Ricky...

Brandon from St. Paul, Minn., wants to know how contracts work for undrafted free agents. "I could be mistaken," he writes, "but I can't imagine many receive multi-year deals. What happens when someone like Doug Baldwin proves to be a huge asset?"...

SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints offered no surprises when declaring which players would be inactive for their NFC divisional playoff game Saturday. Niners tight end Delanie Walker (broken jaw) and Saints receiver Lan...

SAN FRANCISCO -- Picture-perfect California weather only marginally improved the St. Louis Rams' view from the visitor's sideline at Candlestick Park. The Rams watched backup quarterbacks A.J. Feeley and Tom Brandstater warm up, but there was no s...

Baltimore Ravens middle linebacker Ray Lewis was placed on the inactive list for Thursday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The New York Giants' list of inactive players carried quite a bit of interest for the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10. Receivers Mario Manningham and Hakeem Nicks are both active despite injuries. How well they hold up will be the ...