In case there was any need for clarification, Eric Branch just tweeted that 49ers free safety Dashon Goldson does not expect to play Sunday versus the Seahawks. This would mean either Reggie Smith or Madieu Williams would get the start in his place. It sounds like Reggie Smith is back at practice and recovered from his torn meniscus. On the other hand, Madieu Williams got almost all the free safety playing time against the Chargers. I guess we'll just have to wait until game day to see the starting lineup.

If I had to make a prediction, I could see Smith getting the start but the team mixing in Madieu Williams a bit more frequently than we might normally see. I don't know what Smith's conditioning is like since the surgery but I think a bit of a rotation makes sense for the first game. Of course, if Smith goes out there early and dominates, maybe no rotation. It's pretty crazy how the free safety situation has developed with Smith, Goldson and Williams rotating in as the starting guy due to contract issues, injuries and so forth.

In other news, Sidney Rice is appearing more and more questionable for this Sunday. Ben Obomanu would get the start in his place. Robert Gallery has been questionable thus far but apparently has a better chance of starting on Sunday than Rice. If Gallery can't go, James Carpenter has been getting some work in at left guard.