SANTA CLARA, Calif. � Alex Smith is the San Francisco 49ers� new starting quarterback.

Coach Mike Singletary made the announcement Monday after sitting down with Shaun Hill, who was benched at halftime of the Niners� 24-21 loss at Houston on Sunday. Smith, who hadn�t played in nearly two years, completed his first six passes and finished 15 of 22 for 206 yards and three touchdown passes to tight end Vernon Davis � and he nearly led the 49ers back from a 21-0 deficit.
Smith, the No. 1 overall draft pick out of Utah in 2005, missed last season after reinjuring his surgically repaired throwing shoulder three days before the season opener.
Singletary said he doesn�t plan to change quarterbacks every week, saying this is not a �flavor of the month� situation.