Smith entered the game in fourth quarter to fill in for injured teammates Frank Gore (concussion) and Carlos Hyde (back). He finished with just six yards on four carries in the loss to the Seahawks on Sunday.

Smith, who was a depth signing back in November, got to see his first taste of a regular season game Sunday. Gore (concussion) will have to undergo concussion protocols and Hyde (back) will have to see how his back holds up during practice this week, but if both were to miss Sunday's game against San Diego, then Smith would see the lion's share of carries. Even with a significant increase in touches, it would be hard to recommend Smith outside of deeper leagues.

Smith signed with the 49ers on Monday, CSN Bay Area reports.

Smith will return to the team he spent most of training camp with. He will slot in as the 49ers' third running back behind Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde.

49ers signed RB Alfonso Smith.

With Kendall Hunter (torn ACL) and LaMichael James (dislocated elbow) going down over the weekend, the 49ers needed some depth at running back. Smith, 27, has 48 career carried for 156 yards (3.2 YPC) and two touchdowns across 43 games for the Cardinals. He faces long odds at making the roster.

The Cardinals are not expected to tender restricted free agent Alfonso Smith.

Smith opened the season as the Cardinals' No. 3 running back, but was eventually reduced to a special teams role and will likely become a free agent. Andre Ellington, Stepfan Taylor, and Ryan Williams are all set to return in 2014.

Alfonso Smith caught four passes for 30 yards in Arizona's Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

He didn't notch a carry in the running game. Third on the depth chart, Smith has just 17 total touches since Week 1. He remains off the fantasy radar.

Cardinals RB Alfonso Smith rushed three times for one yard and caught a five-yard pass in Sunday's Week 2 win over Detroit.

Straight-line grinder Smith took a backseat to Andre Ellington a week after rushing ten times against the Rams, but managing only 26 yards. He's a non-factor in both real life and fantasy. Smith's strength is special teams.

Alfonso Smith played on 27 offensive snaps in Sunday's Week 1 loss to the Rams.

In an effort to keep Rashard Mendenhall healthy (35 snaps), the Cardinals featured Smith as part of a committee. He played well ahead of rookies Andre Ellington (8) and Stepfan Taylor (0). A 2010 undrafted free agent out of Kentucky, Smith now has totaled 40 NFL carries for just 128 yards (3.20 YPC). He's a very weak standalone play and wouldn't carry a full workload if Mendy went down.

Backing up Rashard Mendenhall, Alfonso Smith carried the ball 10 times for 26 yards in Arizona's Week 1 loss to the Rams.

Coach Bruce Arians said Friday that Alfonso Smith would be the Cardinals' No. 2 tailback in Week 1 at St. Louis.

Arians considers his backfield "rotational" and "situational," with Rashard Mendenhall as the lead back. There has been speculation Stepfan Taylor will vulture goal-line and short-yardage carries, and Ryan Williams is also in the mix. This is going to be a major headache situation for Mendenhall's fantasy owners.

Cardinals re-signed exclusive rights free agent RB Alfonso Smith to a one-year, $555,000 contract.

Smith appeared in 11 games for the Cardinals last season, mainly on special teams. He'll do the same this season, if he makes the squad.

Cardinals re-signed RB Alfonso Smith.

Beat writer Kent Somers says Smith's signing "is perhaps an indication that [Beanie] Wells won't be able to play on Sunday, or maybe longer." Wells is dealing with turf toe. Smith will slide in behind Ryan Williams, LaRod Stephens-Howling and William Powell if Beanie is indeed sidelined.

Cardinals waived or released RB Alfonso Smith, OG Russ Hochstein, WR DeMarco Sampson, TE Steve Skelton, TE Martell Webb, WR Isaiah Williams, OT D.J. Young and C Scott Wedige.

Smith lost out to William Powell, who entered the week as the preseason rushing leader, for the final tailback spot.

Cardinals re-signed exclusive rights RB Alfonso Smith to a one-year, $540,000 contract.

Smith was forced into Arizona's No. 2 back job for a spell last season after Ryan Williams' torn patella. Smith has respectable size and speed, but there is zero wiggle to his game and he doesn't break tackles. He wound up averaging 3.40 yards per carry and falling back down the depth chart by season's end. Smith will have to battle for a roster spot this summer.

Alfonso Smith is expected to start in Week 8 if Beanie Wells (knee) can't go.

Smith is a 2010 undrafted free agent out of Kentucky and replacement-level talent at best. With Wells sidelined in Week 3, Smith rushed 17 times for 54 yards and added three catches for 21 yards. That's about the ceiling of what we'd expect against the Ravens this week, especially after coach Ken Whisenhunt said, "It will be a little bit of back-by-committee," when asked about replacing Wells. LaRod Stephens-Howling and Chester Taylor will also get work.

Beat writer Kent Somers notes that Alfonso Smith looked "quicker and more authoritative" than Chester Taylor.

With Beanie Wells (hamstring) sidelined, Taylor started yesterday's game against the Seahawks. But the Cards quickly turned to the younger and faster Smith, who left a "positive impression." According to Somers, Smith "might have won the backup job."

Beat writer Kent Somers suggests the Cardinals may try to sneak RB Alfonso Smith onto the practice squad.

Smith is a 2010 undrafted free agent out of Kentucky that has made waves in this year's camp. He's currently the No. 3 back behind Beanie Wells and LaRod Stephens-Howling, but could end up waived if the Cardinals add a veteran third-down back as expected.

The Cardinals are "pleased" with the development of RB Alfonso Smith.

That's good news, since he may actually make the roster with Ryan Williams staring at a season-ending knee injury. An undrafted free agent last year, Smith was active for just one game, and didn't receive a carry. So far this preseason, he's carried the ball 17 times for 70 yards. It's unlikely the Cardinals will enter the season with Smith as their No. 3 running back.

Cardinals signed RB Alfonso Smith, WR Isaiah Williams, LBs Brandon Sharpe and Pago Togafau, DE Jeremy Navarre, OT Cliff Louis, and OG Tom Pestock to reserve/future contracts.

Smith, undrafted out of Kentucky, spent one week on the active roster this season but didn't receive a carry. Sharpe is a converted defensive end from Texas Tech. Togafau can play special teams and inside linebacker in a pinch.

Cardinals waived RB Alfonso Smith.

Smith was active for Sunday's game with LaRod Stephens-Howling (hamstring) and Jason Wright (concussion) out. Stephens-Howling is due back for Week 12, so Smith is no longer needed. He could be re-signed to the practice squad.

Cardinals signed RB Alfonso Smith from the practice squad.

Both LaRod Stephens-Howling (hamstring) and Jason Wright (concussion) are listed as questionable for Sunday's Week 11 game, and at least one of the two will likely be inactive. This could be a sign that Wright has not passed his post-concussion tests. Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower are expected to handle running duties.