Fri Dec 28 18:01:24 2007

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Weinke to start season finale for 49ers

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Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - Chris Weinke will be San Francisco's starting quarterback in its season finale against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

"Chris Weinke will start in the game," San Francisco head coach Mike Nolan said. "The backup will be Drew Olson. The third quarterback will come out of either Arnaz (Battle) or Michael Robinson. Hopefully, we'll just stay with Chris Weinke there for the entire game."

Quarterback Shaun Hill missed his third day of practice on Friday with what the team has called back spasms. Hill suffered sore ribs in a win over Tampa Bay last Sunday, and the quarterback has also been playing with a broken index finger.

Weinke took one snap last week last week when Hill left the game after a hit from Gaines Adams, but it will be his first start since last December when he began Weeks 14-16 under center for the Panthers.

In three games last season, he completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 625 yards with two touchdowns and four interceptions.

"I'm excited," Weinke said. "I feel like I got more comfortable as the week went on. Obviously it helps with the more reps you take and I think the coaches did a great job of putting together a game plan that I feel comfortable with."

San Francisco's starting quarterback Alex Smith is on the IR with a shoulder injury and backup Trent Dilfer is out with a concussion.