Hill back at practice...likely to start saturday.
(08-27) 13:36 PDT SANTA CLARA -- After letting his strained lower back "settle down,"
Shaun Hill returned to practice Thursday and threw in individual drills while
Damon Huard ran most of the plays with the starting offense in team sessions.
Hill said he expects to play in Saturday night's preseason game in Dallas "as far as I know."
"It feels good today," he said. "It was nice to be able to get out there and practice. It wasn't as bad as everyone thought. I knew it wasn't all that serious. It was smarter to let things settle down than to push through at this point in the year."
San Francisco's starters are expected to play the first half against the Cowboys, with some continuing on into the third quarter.
"This is a very important game for everybody on the team," Hill said. "For the guys who are going to be starting it's important to establish a tempo and do some good things. Every opportunity to play is important. My goal is, no matter how many series, to come away with touchdowns."
For only the fourth time in training camp, the 49ers left their pads in the locker room Thursday and came out in shorts and helmets.
"We are definitely starting to get there," Hill said. "Today it was wonderful. We didn't have the pads on, guys were light on their feet. The timing and rhythm is definitely starting to come."
Huard heard from: Huard said he'll be ready if the coaches decide to hold Hill out and he gets the start in Dallas.
"Sure - why not?" the 13-year veteran said. "It's why we play the game. My role as of late has been a veteran backup, but you always want to play."
Willis ready to go: Pro Bowl linebacker
Patrick Willis will play in Saturday's game for the first time this preseason. He hurt his ankle and Achilles tendon the first day of camp and did not play in the 49ers' first two preseason games.
He said he's looking forward to actually tackling someone to the ground in a game after being limited to an initial pop in practice.
"Out here I've had to calm myself down, make sure I get in the right position and get a 'thud' in," Willis said. "It's going to be fun to be able to hit again and tackle someone to the ground."
Eating well: Led by kick returner
Allen Rossum, two dozen players Thursday presented a $30,000 check to Bay Area company Revolution Foods to provide 2,500 needy children in San Francisco and Oakland healthy meals for three months.
The donation also funds a 10-minute recess program at the San Francisco Boys and Girls Club.
The children are from the Boys and Girls Club, Aim High and the City of Oakland's summer lunch program. Rossum addressed 15 of the children taking part in the program on the importance of eating right and exercising.
Crabtree count
Number of practices No. 1 draft pick Michael Crabtree has missed:
38
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/28/SPT119EM3S.DTL&type=49ers