49ers' A.J. Jenkins not producing A.J. JENKINS

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Five months after Jim Harbaugh's unprompted and spirited defense of A.J. Jenkins included the assertion that the first-round pick "is going to be an outstanding football player," his claim was more modest Monday.

The rookie wide receiver, he said, is not languishing on the depth chart behind Chad Hall, who was signed to the practice squad Nov. 27 and promoted to the active roster Saturday.

The topic was broached because of the wide receivers' playing time during the 28-24 win at Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game suggested otherwise. Hall played one snap Sunday and was targeted with a pass. Jenkins and Alex Smith were the only members of the 46-man roster who didn't play.

Asked why Hall was ahead of Jenkins on the depth chart, Harbaugh said, "A.J. was ahead of Chad on the depth chart had something happened to Michael (Crabtree) or Randy (Moss)." Harbaugh didn't mention No. 3 wideout Ted Ginn, who played 11 snaps against Atlanta.

Harbaugh's explanation for why Hall logged a snap and Jenkins didn't play: The 3rd-and-5, third-quarter play on which Hall appeared was well-suited for the shifty, 5-foot-8 slot receiver. Colin Kaepernick's pass in the right flat was tipped by Falcons safety William Moore and Hall couldn't corral it.

"We had a specific play that we felt Chad would be very good at," Harbaugh said, "and that play got called in the game."

The only passes rookie A.J. Jenkins caught Sunday in the Georgia Dome came in pregame warm-ups. The only passes rookie A.J. Jenkins caught Sunday in the Georgia Dome came in pregame warm-ups. Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close 49ers' A.J. Jenkins not producing 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Whatever the case, it doesn't reflect well on Jenkins, who has been on the active roster for 18 games and been targeted with one pass (he dropped it). Hall has been on the active roster for four days and has as many targets as Jenkins.

Before the playoffs, Harbaugh said the 49ers needed Jenkins to "step up" in light of season-ending injuries to wideouts Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams.

The good news for the Niners is their head coach appears to be wrong: They advanced to the Super Bowl on Sunday without Jenkins stepping on the field.