Troy Smith To Get Start At QB For San Francisco This Sunday

Added on Oct 27, 2010 by Jason Kearney in

NFL

The San Francisco 49ers are in London to take on the Denver Broncos, but they’ll have to do it without starting quarterback Alex Smith. Smith separated his left shoulder in the Niners’ loss to the Carolina Panthers. David Carr came on in relief but was ineffective and threw a costly interception that set up the Panthers’ game winning field goal. Instead of starting the veteran backup Carr, head coach Mike Singletary has turned to former Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith out of Ohio State.

Troy Smith spent the last three years with Baltimore, starting only two games. He’s a very mobile quarterback and his scrambling ability gives the San Fran offense a diminision that Carr does not. Coach Singletary said that he’s talked to Carr about the decision:

“Troy Smith gives us a good opportunity to win this game. I talked to David Carr about it. He understands. We had a couple of conversations about it. That’s a personal thing between he and I, and I’m going to leave it there. Troy Smith is our starting quarterback.”

Asked if he’s concerned that his new starting quarterback hasn’t taken any snaps with the first team offense, Singletary responded:

“He’s been studying since we got here, and has been getting with the coaches as much as he possibly could. He has enough of the offense to play.”

For his part, Troy Smith says he’s ready to go:

“The way that you prepare as a professional athlete, you have to be prepared when your number is called. And that’s exactly where I’m at.”

“I think the easiest way to get through to your teammates that you’re serious about what’s going on is to know exactly what your job is, know exactly what everyone expects from you and go out and execute. At the same time you have to respect your boundaries. I believe in not stepping on anybody’s toes, I believe in getting in where you fit in.”

Alex Smith is expected to be out two or three weeks, but since the Niners have a bye week on deck there’s hope he’ll be ready to go when the team returns to action on November 14 against the St. Louis Rams.