SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - Now it's Alex Smith's turn to make a case for becoming the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback.
Smith will start Saturday night's exhibition game against the Oakland Raiders, just the second time he will begin a game under center for the 49ers since injuring his throwing shoulder more than two years ago.
Smith is battling Shaun Hill for the starting job, a competition that likely will continue until the end of this month before coach Mike Singletary names his starter.
Hill started last week's exhibition opener against Denver and has been the apparent front-runner at quarterback since spring drills began in March.
But Smith has kept close while displaying he's fully recovered from problems with his right shoulder that required two surgeries and forced him to miss the 2008 season.
"First of all, my shoulder feels awesome," Smith said Friday. "So I've really been able to focus on football, playing quarterback and learning and executing this offense. I'm getting better every day, and now it's a matter of showing it come game time."
Smith was expected to be San Francisco's franchise quarterback when the 49ers selected him with the No. 1 overall pick of the 2005 draft.
But Smith's career has taken a series of twists and turns since the 2006 season, when he took every snap for the 49ers.
Smith tore ligaments in his throwing shoulder in Week 4 of the 2007 season. He attempted a comeback later in the year before going on injured reserve and having surgery.
Smith started San Francisco's preseason finale last August after the 49ers already had named journeyman J.T. O'Sullivan as their starter for the regular season. Smith injured the same shoulder a few days before the regular-season opener and went on injured reserve before having another surgery to repair a rare fracture.
After taking over from O'Sullivan near midseason, Hill led San Francisco to a 5-2 finish last year and is 7-3 as a starter with the 49ers. But Singletary has said that both quarterbacks will get an equal opportunity to win the job.
Hill was crisp last week against Denver, completing both of his pass attempts for 41 yards while leading the 49ers on an 11-play drive to a field goal to begin the game. He was replaced by Smith on San Francisco's next offensive series.
Smith was 5 of 7 for 33 yards while playing the rest of the first half. He threw a short touchdown pass to Brit Miller that gave the 49ers a 9-0 lead at halftime.
Smith has displayed a better arm on deep passes but has not shown the accuracy or consistency of Hill this summer. Smith, who is playing for his fifth offensive coordinator in five seasons with the 49ers, realizes the importance of his opportunity against the Raiders.
"That's what this is all about right now," Smith said. "I'm far more ahead of the game than I ever have been at this point with an offense. Right now I'm just focusing on Saturday and helping this team win games."