Trent

Dilfer

The backup to Matt Hasselbeck was out for more than a week with a back injury. The Seattle coaches want him to play in Saturday’s preseason game.

Because of injuries to Dilfer and Brock Huard, Matt Hasselbeck and Seneca Wallace have been forced to throw a ton of balls. We’re a little concerned for Hasselbeck’s arm.

Dilfer played his college ball at Fresno State and heard some cheers from the audience. The Raiders haven’t been very active trying to find a backup for JaMarcus Russell. Dilfer has proven a good tutor of young quarterbacks.

He may start adding more team drills next week. It appears Dilfer will ready himself in time for training camp to be Alex Smith’s backup.

Dilfer was restricted from 11-on-11 work last week. He’s expected to be ready for training camp.

Although it seems unlikely, San Francisco has until June 15 to decide whether to keep Dilfer, who the Niners acquired from Cleveland for Ken Dorsey and a late-round pick in early May. Dilfer, recovering from offseason knee surgery, has not been cleared to play by doctors.

Dilfer was so happy with himself after the score he ran over and yelled something at Warren Sapp, meriting the former Raven a taunting penalty, one of two for Dilfer on the night.

“That’s why we checked around that weekend to see if we could get something for him,” Savage said. “We had to weigh getting something vs. getting nothing.” Dilfer, rehabbing from offseason knee surgery, was dealt to the 49ers in early May.

Dilfer missed the first two games with back spasms.

Dilfer, who sat out Seattle’s first two preseason games with back spasms, is expected to play most of the second half in relief of starter Matt Hasselbeck.