SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Alex Smith is supportive of Colin Kaepernick's success, even if the second-year pro takes Smith's starting job as 49ers quarterback.

"If you can't be happy for your teammate's success you're playing the wrong sport. Go play tennis or golf or something," Smith said Wednesday. "That's ridiculous, I think. That doesn't belong in team sports, in my opinion. It's the quarterback position. It gets a lot of attention. We're going to get talked about."

Smith plans to fight for his job once he is fully healthy, and he had yet to be medically cleared Wednesday after missing Monday night's 32-7 rout of the Bears, recovering from a concussion.

Yet coach Jim Harbaugh said that once Smith is available, the QB for the NFC West-leading Niners (7-2-1) could change week to week, and even during the course of a game. Harbaugh gave no indication when he would select his No. 1 for Sunday's game at New Orleans (5-5), but Sports Illustrated reported that Harbaugh plans to start Kaepernick.

Notes

• Denver placed RB Willis McGahee on recallable injured reserve, meaning he can return to practice after missing the final six regular-season games and could play in the AFC title game.

• Cleveland safety T.J. Ward was fined $25,000 for an illegal hit he delivered against Dallas wide receiver Kevin Ogletree.

• Rookie quarterback Ryan Lindley will make his first start against St. Louis on Sunday.

• Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel announced that Brady Quinn will start against Denver.

• The Jacksonville Jaguars placed quarterback Blaine Gabbert on injured reserve because of a significant forearm injury.

• Dallas running back DeMarco Murray is likely to miss his sixth straight game Thursday against Washington with a sprained foot, and Ogletree is out with a concussion.

• Green Bay wide receiver Greg Jennings has returned to practice for the first time since having surgery to repair a torn abdominal muscle.

• Chicago QB Jay Cutler will practice Thursday, clearing one hurdle in his goal to return from a concussion in time for Sunday's game vs. Minnesota.