Tim Rattay will be the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback for the season opener, reclaiming his job from No. 1 draft pick Alex Smith after just two preseason games. Coach Mike Nolan announced the decision Tuesday at the conclusion of the 49ers' first full practice following the death of offensive lineman Thomas Herrion, who collapsed in the locker room in Denver on Saturday night. The players and coaches seemed grateful to focus on something other than their grief and mourning -- and Smith, Herrion's college teammate and friend for two years at Utah, was able to put his first pro disappointment in perspective. "I know how this works," Smith said. "This is a team game. This isn't all about me. I think the team wants to win now. We expect to win now, and as of right now, this looks like the right decision. Hopefully, I keep getting better and keep pushing it. Who knows what happens in the future, but right now, I understand it."

San Francisco 49ers lineman Thomas Herrion, who died Saturday after a preseason game in Denver, had never tested positive for any banned substance since he entered the NFL two years ago, sources familiar with his league drug profile told ESPN's Chris Mortensen on Monday. The 23-year-old Herrion had tested negative on three occasions in the past 12 months for steroids and performance-enhancing drugs, including ephedra products. He also was clean in other league-administered tests for street drugs, the sources said. The Denver coroner's office performed an autopsy Sunday, but said no cause of death could be determined until toxicology tests were performed. The tests usually take about three to six weeks. "We lost a teammate and a very good friend," Niners coach Mike Nolan said on Sunday, as the shock of the loss sunk in. On Monday, less than 48 hours after their teammate collapsed and died, the 49ers went back to work.

San Francisco offensive lineman Thomas Herrion collapsed in the locker room and died Sunday morning, shortly after the 49ers played the Denver Broncos in a preseason game. He was 23. Herrion, a 6-foot-3, 310-pound guard, was on the field for San Francisco's 14-play, 91-yard drive that ended with a touchdown with 2 seconds left. Players had finished listening to coach Mike Nolan address them in a postgame meeting when Herrion collapsed. Medics administered CPR on him and took him to an ambulance that rushed him to a nearby hospital. About three hours later, 49ers spokesman Aaron Salkin confirmed that Herrion had been pronounced dead. The cause of death was not immediately known. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that television footage showed Herrion walking off the field after the 49ers' touchdown drive, with nothing apparently wrong. According to the paper, Herrion's face gave no sign of distress in the footage. "This is a colossal tragedy for the 49ers and the entire NFL community," Salkin said. "We still do not know all the details. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Herrion family."

Refuting a rumor that Jeremy Newberry would miss the season because of his knee injury, coach Mike Nolan said nothing has changed in his center's status. "The situation is the same as it's been since training camp started," Nolan told the San Francisco Chronicle on Friday. "It's still a matter of how much pain he can endure, because it's bone on bone. A lot depends on if there's swelling. If there isn't, he can play." Newberry has yet to practice, but Nolan said he planned to have him on the field some time next week. "It might be Monday, or it might be later in the week, depending on how he feels," Nolan told the paper. "He's sore now, but it's not from football, it's from the rehabbing he's doing."

Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick in April, earned a second starting role for the 49ers for maintaining his composure and focus and remained responsive to coaching during his otherwise dismal outing in the team's 21-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the Contra Costa Times reported. Tim Rattay, who threw two touchdown passes, and Ken Dorsey, who moved the team effectively, will also see action in the 49ers' next preseason game -- Saturday against host Denver. "I haven't changed my feelings or thoughts about maintaining the same structure," coach Mike Nolan told the Contra Costa Times. "We've put the young guy in a situation where he does receive the most pressure. The relief pitcher always has an easier job. But putting him in there is one more opportunity for me to assess him."

After missing the final 15 games of last season with knee and back injuries, starting center Jeremy Newberry is taking his recovery very slow. The Niners were hoping he would get back into practice soon, however Newberry would like to wait until after the Aug. 13 preseason opener. "I'll take one practice, and if it goes good, I'll practice again the next day and then try to limit my reps a little bit, so I'm not killing my leg, but at the same time get enough to get ready to play," said the 29-year-old Newberry, whose spot is being filled by guard Eric Heitmann.

Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young will be inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame after his first-ballot election. "I don't regret any of the places I went in football," Young said. "Everything gave me an experience or memories that I'll have forever. We had more success in San Francisco, but it was a great time everywhere. I always had fun." Young will be enshrined in Canton, Ohio, this weekend along with Dan Marino, Fritz Pollard and Benny Friedman.