NFL PRESEASON ROUNDUP

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Aug 30, 2008

Smith throws two picks in loss to San Diego

SAN FRANCISCO -- Even against his hometown team's third- stringers and scrubs, Alex Smith demonstrated why he is no longer the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback.

Smith passed for 146 yards but also threw two terrible interceptions, and San Diego's Eldra Buckley made a one-armed diving catch on a 2-yard touchdown pass with 29 seconds left in the Chargers' 20-17 exhibition victory against the 49ers on Friday night.

Just four weeks ago, Smith never would have expected to be playing three quarters in the season's most meaningless game. But the former No. 1 overall draft pick gradually lost his job to J.T. O'Sullivan, the journeyman quarterback who will start for the 49ers (2-2) in next week's home opener against Arizona.

T.J. Duckett showed he may be more than just the short-yardage back coach Mike Holmgren thinks he is by running for 71 yards and two touchdowns in Seattle's 23-16 victory against Oakland in a preseason finale without all but three starters.

Seahawks Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck was in sweats to rest a back that has been tight since Aug. 8. He will start the season opener Sept. 7 at Buffalo having played just two snaps since January's playoffs.

Oakland starter JaMarcus Russell, who will start the Sept. 8 opener against Denver, was in uniform, but stayed on the sideline.

Matt Leinart gained a measure of redemption in Arizona's preseason finale, even if it came against what essentially was the Denver Broncos' junior varsity.

Leinart relieved starter Kurt Warner and directed the Cardinals to two touchdowns in the Cardinals' 28-14 loss to the Broncos' reserves.

He was 10-of-14 for 177 yards and a score, all in the second quarter.

Twenty-nine Denver players sat out the game, as is the custom for the final preseason contest for coach Mike Shanahan.

The Associated Press