SAN FRANCISCO – For Joe Staley, it was an offensive lineman's dream come true – a fumbled football, in the end zone, tucked safely under his belly.
"I was so excited," the 49ers' left tackle said. "I looked down and saw I was beyond the end-zone line. I was like, 'Touchdown!' "
The scenario unfolded in the first quarter Sunday when, from the Jets' 7-yard line, Shaun Hill hit wide receiver Jason Hill with a quick pass over the middle. When Hill reached the goal line, however, the ball slipped from his grasp, and the scramble was on.
Jets defenders weren't the only ones Staley had to fight off.
"It was also my own guys because they wanted the ball, they wanted the touchdown," Staley said.
Although there was no precipitation Sunday, the ball proved slippery for the 49ers. They fumbled five times, although Michael Robinson's fumble on their game-opening possession was the only one they lost.
Staley admitted that as soon as he secured the ball, he started thinking of how he would celebrate. An end-zone dance flashed through his mind before he settled on a thunderous, leaping spike in the corner of the end zone.
After Shaun Hill scored a touchdown last year, he tossed the ball to Staley but was disappointed by the lineman's celebration. Did Staley make amends Sunday?
"I didn't see it," Hill said. "But I heard he did well."
All thumbs – Cornerback Nate Clements, who was listed as questionable, did not even test his broken thumb in pregame warmups. He said the pin that was inserted during Tuesday's procedure wiped out any chance of him playing.
Clements had played in 124 consecutive games dating to his rookie season in 2001.
Donald Strickland started in his place and was part of a unit that held Jets quarterback Brett Favre to a season-low 137 yards.
"Nate was very encouraging," Strickland said. "I know he was down a little bit, this being his first inactive game. But we have to hold down the fort until he comes back."
Almost home – Frank Gore had to be helped off the field early in the third quarter after a teammate landed on him in a pile, spraining the running back's ankle. X-rays were negative, and Gore preliminarily is listed as questionable for Sunday's game in his hometown, Miami.
Gore said he was particularly frustrated because, with 978 rushing yards, he felt he would have surpassed the 1,000-yard mark in the second half. If he does, he will become the first 49ers running back with three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons.
Et cetera – Flanked by fellow Pro Football Hall of Famers such as Ronnie Lott and Bob St. Clair, recent inductee Fred Dean was given his Hall of Fame ring at halftime.
• The 49ers opened the game with an onside kick that the Jets recovered. Said coach Mike Singletary: "It just let the Jets know and let our guys feel it. 'Hey, you know what? We're going all out. This is our game.' "
• Defensive back Marcus Hudson suffered a concussion, and wide receiver Arnaz Battle aggravated the foot injury that had kept him out of the previous four games.
• Wide receiver Josh Morgan was inactive because of a lingering groin injury. Bryant Johnson started in his place and caught six passes for 49 yards, including a three-yard touchdown.
Read Matthew Barrows' 49ers blog at www.sacbee.com/ninersblog.
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