Monday Morning Mailbag: Depth is tested

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The 49ers fear that receiver Kyle Williams' knee injury is a season-ender. Running back Kendall Hunter could miss several weeks with an ankle injury.This is why the 49ers signed Brandon Jacobs in the offseason and selected receiver A.J. Jenkins and running back LaMichael James in the first two rounds of the draft.RELATED: Kendall Hunter, Kyle Williams go down with injuries
Is this the opportunity LaMichael James & AJ Jenkins need to make the impact to this season? (@whizard4)
The 49ers will need a backup running back with Hunter out of action. Brandon Jacobs and Anthony Dixon are candidates to get more action. Both players saw action on two snaps on Sunday in the 49ers' 31-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints.And it could be that James will be active, too.Williams handled return duties on Sunday after Ted Ginn muffed a punt. Coach Jim Harbaugh alluded to Ginn having a wrist injury, too.James has been working on catching punts, but Harbaugh did not sound Friday as if he believes James is ready to perform that duty in games. It seems unlikely that James will have much of a role, even with the injuries.
With Williams expected to be out of action, the 49ers still have three proven wideouts: Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham and Randy Moss. Ginn could be the No. 4 receiver, as well as the team's main return guy.Like James, Jenkins has not played this season. It's possible the 49ers will consider him for a role as a slot receiver. More likely, they'll stick with Crabtree, Manningham and Moss as their three primary wideouts. Moss played 25 snaps on Sunday. He did not catch any passes, but he made a big play to break up a would-be interception in the end zone. Manningham played just 24 snaps, as he missed some time with a left hand injury.
Backup tight end Delanie Walker appeared to sustain a hip injury. His status is not known. He received a ride on the back of a cart to go from the team's locker room at one end of the field to the team buses in the tunnel at the other end after the game. Walker played 31 snaps in the game, while starter Vernon Davis was on the field for all 60 snaps.
Undrafted rookie Brent Celek played five snaps. Defensive lineman Demarcus Dobbs is also capable of filling in at tight end.
What's next for Alex? (@utefanjames)
Alex Smith said he believes he should be the starter.But coach Jim Harbaugh has not told him anything. Interestingly, Harbaugh said the only reason Colin Kaepernick started Sunday against the New Orleans Saints was because Smith was still experiencing concussion symptoms more than a week after the injury.Harbaugh will say anything and do anything that gives him a competitive advantage, so his statements should be met with a high level of skepticism. After all, he admitted that if creating any doubt about the quarterback situation gives the 49ers even a one-percent advantage, he's willing to do it.What's next for Alex? He's in limbo. He received final clearance to play the day before the game. Colin Kaepernick said he found out he was starting at a team meeting Saturday night.Smith must be prepared to play at any moment. He wore his helmet throughout Sunday's game, not because he expected to be summoned at any moment but because he wanted to listen to the playcalls via the radio transmitter in his helmet.After this season, I'm sure the 49ers would want to keep Smith around as Kaepernick's backup. But it seems unlikely the 49ers will guarantee his 7.5 million base salary by keeping him on the roster past April 1.
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