San Francisco at Atlanta

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Jerry Rice's surgically repaired knee is holding up fine. It's the other one that's giving him problems now.

The San Francisco 49ers receiver, who missed most of last season with two major injuries to his left knee, has been playing the last seven weeks with a partially torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

The last two weeks, it's become particularly bothersome and he's had to have fluid drained from it, though he hasn't missed any playing time.

"It's not a pretty sight," Rice said Wednesday. "I'm trying to rest and be smart about this but I'll be there Saturday. I'll be in the lineup. Basically, if I am on the football field, I believe I can help this team win."

The 49ers (13-4) play at Atlanta (14-2) in a NFC divisional playoff Saturday. They advanced by beating Green Bay 30-27 in a wild-card game in which Rice was held to one catch.

Rice worked out with the team on a limited basis Wednesday before leaving practice to attend a rehabilitation session with a physical therapist.

"Obviously, he's anxious to play and he's getting treatment like crazy," coach Steve Mariucci said.

Hearst's hamstring
It looks as if it's a go for Garrison Hearst.

Hearst returned to the 49ers practice Wednesday, a day after being held out of workouts to rest his sore right hamstring. He's expected to be ready for Saturday's divisional playoff at Atlanta.

"It's cool," Hearst said after Wednesday's workout. "I'll be ready to play. It doesn't bother me right now. I cramped up after the game. I didn't pull it again."

Hearst, who set a team single-season rushing record, gained 128 yards in Sunday's 30-27 win over Green Bay despite going into the game with the hamstring injury. He had to leave near the end of the game when he felt his calf and hamstring cramp.

The throw
The throw is now getting its due along with the catch.

Terrell Owens made the last-second touchdown catch in Sunday's wild-card victory over Green Bay, grabbing the throw Steve Young threaded between three defenders.

Offensive line coach Bobb McKittrick, in his 20th season with the team, made a point of illustrating just how well Young threw the ball. He began a team meeting with a graphic detailing Young's total attempts and completions and his completion percentage during a 14-year career.

"Everyone was wondering, 'Where's he going with this?' " coach Steve Mariucci said. "And he says, 'I've been here 600 years and that is the best throw I've ever seen from this guy in 4,000 attempts.' If that was the best throw he's ever seen, it certainly was the best throw I've ever seen in the two years I've been here."

Young said he still gets a charge reliving the moment.

"There's been plenty of electrifying moments in that stadium over the years and that was electrifying," he said.