SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Eric Reid got a quick lesson on the Black Hole, a new term for the second-year San Francisco safety.I dont even know what the Black Hole is, what is that? Reid asked, standing at his locker Wednesday at the midway point of preparations for Sundays game at Oakland.Ah, yes, those crazy characters all dressed up in the Coliseum end zone.Doctors. Lawyers. Techies. School teachers.Ive seen highlights on TV. They get pretty dressed up, right? Thatll be fun. I like that kind of stuff, Reid said. My dad is a pastor and he likes to get dressed up in motorcycle gear and try to act tough. Its good to change it up a bit. I bet they enjoy it.Reid and the 49ers defence have been doing their part to carry the load in recent weeks, and now San Francisco (7-5) is playing for its playoff life as it makes the short road trip to Oakland (1-11) on Sunday, likely needing to win its four remaining games or at least get some help.We could play better. There are some plays that cost us games in the earlier part of the season, Reid said. We dug ourselves into this hole and weve got to climb out of it.On a defence that has been defined by its moving parts and injuries as much as its playmaking ability, it has been a tough year to establish the momentum of recent seasons. Linebacker NaVorro Bowman continues to rehab his surgically repaired left knee that has kept him out since the injury in Januarys NFC title game at Seattle, and the 21-day window for him to be activated will end Monday.Linebacker Patrick Willis was lost for the season because of a troublesome left big toe that required surgery, while Aldon Smith spent the first nine games serving a suspension by the league. Nose tackles Glenn Dorsey and Ian Williams have dealt with injuries, too, with Williams going on season-ending injured reserve for the second straight year.Michael Wilhoite and Dan Skuta have emerged as reliable linebacker replacements, and rookies Chris Borland and Aaron Lynch have become key contributors out of necessity at the position.Just as a defence were not going to fold in, were not going to fold our tents up just based on whats happened, captain Justin Smith said Wednesday. Guys have responded. Young guys have played well. Hats off to those guys, theyve kept the level up there.The 35-year-old Smiths body feels better at this stage of the season given he has regularly taken off Wednesday practices to rest his body, something the coaching staff supports as an approach to ensure Smith is at his best on game days. He has 36 tackles, five sacks and two forced fumbles this season.Smith underwent surgery for a partially torn left triceps following the 2012 Super Bowl season, then dealt with a nagging shoulder issue much of last year.He hasnt decided whether he will return for a 15th NFL season next year.I havent given it any thought, Smith said. It will be something to think about after the season.He has more pressing matters, such as chasing down rookie Raiders quarterback Derek Carr on Sunday. Smith and the 49ers realize Oakland will be looking to restore some respectability on the heels of a 52-0 loss at St. Louis.Two key members of San Franciscos 2013 secondary are now with the Raiders — cornerbacks Tarell Brown and Carlos Rogers.Smith praised the new secondary featuring safety Antoine Bethea and said what makes it work with new faces is keeping things simple and basic execution.Its a credit to these guys coming in, stepping up and making it important to them. Thats the biggest thing, Smith said. The levels been raised here on how we play defence. These guys came in and they didnt want to see that bar go down, and it hasnt.When it comes to the offensive struggles, Smith says, I stay on my side, I stay with what I know.Were just going to rely on our offence to come around, Reid said. We need them to win these games, they need us. Weve just got to count on each other.NOTES: LT Joe Staley didnt participate in a practice that was moved up several hours to late morning because of steady rain. Coach Jim Harbaugh said he was throwing up. ... RT Anthony Davis, who has missed the last two games nursing a concussion, was set to do some cardio work and weightlifting.___Online: AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL Austin Corbett Youth Jersey . - Young and old. Myles Garrett Jersey .? It was his second straight start for the Jets; he suffered a 1-0 loss against Minnesota Monday. So this season Hutchinson has now won games in the ECHL, AHL and NHL. He was perfect three- for-three in the shootout to nail down the win. http://www.brownsauthenticproshop.com/Youth-odell-beckham-jr-browns-jersey/ . Carcillo was a little of both for New York in Game 3. Derek Stepan, Martin St. Louis, Dan Girardi and Carcillo scored goals, leading the Rangers to a 4-1 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Tuesday night. Bernie Kosar Jersey . -- The Chicago Bears say they have agreed to a one-year contract with centre Roberto Garza. David Njoku Youth Jersey . "Its embarrassing what were doing here," leading scorer Phil Kessel said Wednesday. The most recent failed season came with even more pain than the six that preceded it. There was no hint of an impending implosion when the Leafs came roaring out of the all-star break with back-to-back games against Pittsburgh -- a 5-4 shootout loss followed by a 1-0 win the next night.ARLINGTON, Texas -- All-Star pitcher Yu Darvish checked out OK after being struck on the top of the head by a batted ball while throwing in the outfield during batting practice Tuesday. The Texas Rangers said Darvish was examined by team physician Dr. Keith Meister before Tuesday nights game against Houston, and that "everything appears to be OK." Darvish is expected to make his scheduled start Wednesday night in the series finale against the Astros. But the Rangers said Darvish would be re-evaluated before the game as a precaution. Responding on Twitter to an article about the incident, Darvish indicated that he was OK. He resumed throwing a few minutes after the incident, and didnt see Meister until after that. Darvish had just made a throw when he was struck by the batted ball. Clearly stunned, the Japanese ace dropped into a squat momentarily before getting up, wiping his brow and appearing to check his head with his fingers. He then put his cap back on and ffinished his throwing session off flat ground in right field with other pitchers.dddddddddddd Rangers left-hander Derek Holland was shagging balls in front of Darvish. The ball glanced off Hollands glove before hitting Darvish. "I heard it," Holland said. "I was supposed to be protecting him but I just couldnt get to the ball. It was too high. I didnt get high enough. Hes fine." Darvish, who joined Kenny Rogers as the only three-time All-Star pitchers for the Rangers, is 8-4 with a 2.63 ERA in 16 starts this season. His 134 strikeouts are fifth in the majors, but his 11 strikeouts per nine innings are the most. Wednesday is Darvishs last scheduled appearance before the All-Star break. Before his expected start last Thursday was pushed back a day because of weather concerns in Baltimore, the right-hander had been on track to start Sunday in the last game before the break. A pitcher who works Sunday cannot throw in the All-Star game. ' ' '