ON DECK: Smith (??) to play for 49ers

On Friday afternoon, I was absentmindedly looking at ESPN when I saw a headline that caught my eye.

“Niners expect Smith to play vs. Packers.”

What??

Alex Smith is going to play quarterback, replacing Colin Kaepernick in the most important game of the year? Smith was leading the way when San Francisco beat Green Bay earlier in the year, maybe they wanted to try it again.

But much to my own stupidity, it was not Alex Smith, but Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Smith.

My mind should have known that right away but maybe my subconscious wanted a juicy story coming out on the eve of the biggest NFC game of the year — so far.

I'll be back in the office in time to keep an eye on the game, which I think will have Aaron Rodgers exhibiting some revenge on the Niners, who passed on Rodgers in favor of Smith in the 2005 Draft.

I know I sure wouldn't want to be Smith against Rodgers — Justin or Alex.