NFL | Jackson signs deal, practices with Rams

ST. LOUIS — Steven Jackson signed a six-year, $44 million contract, ended a 27-day holdout and was on the field for practice with the St. Louis Rams on Thursday.

And all was forgiven.

Coach Scott Linehan, who conducted a month of practices without the centerpiece of the offense, joked that he gave Jackson "a big hug" and then asked for a loan. Offensive tackle Orlando Pace, no stranger to holdouts, said he was happy "big time, big time" to see the bruising runner. Defensive tackle La'Roi Glover said simply, "Things are pretty good at Rams Park right now."

The 235-pound running back had been entering the final season of a five-year, $7 million deal he signed as a first-round pick in 2004. Linehan said he understood the business end of the game after Jackson got a deal that includes more than $20 million in bonuses and puts him third on the salary scale on the team, trailing only quarterback Marc Bulger and Pace, and fifth among NFL running backs.

Thursday's exhibition

49ers 37, at Bears 30

J.T. O'Sullivan made a perfect case to start. And Alex Smith's counter-argument didn't measure up.

O'Sullivan threw for 126 yards and a touchdown in his limited time while Smith struggled, and the San Francisco 49ers beat the Chicago Bears.

Although the third exhibition game usually is a dress rehearsal for the opener, coach Mike Nolan would not select O'Sullivan as the starter this week. This game might convince him.

After two mediocre outings against Oakland and Green Bay, O'Sullivan couldn't have performed any better against the Bears.

He was 7 for 8 with a perfect 158.3 passer rating in his third preseason start. He led the 49ers to field goals on the first two possessions and a two-play, 77-yard touchdown drive on the third one.

Chicago backup linebacker Rod Wilson left the field on a cart with a broken right forearm in the third quarter.

Notes

• Pittsburgh signed linebacker James Farrior to a five-year, $18.2 million contract extension that includes a $5 million signing bonus.

• Minnesota quarterback Tarvaris Jackson has made progress in his recovery from a sprained right medial collateral ligament, but there appears a good chance he will be held out of Saturday's exhibition game against Pittsburgh.

• Houston fullback Jameel Cook was arrested and charged with marijuana possession. A Fort Bend County (Texas) sheriff's deputy stopped Cook because his 2007 Mercedes sedan had no front license plate or registration sticker, sheriff's department spokeswoman Terriann Carlson said. He's free on a $500 bond after authorities said he had about two grams of marijuana, no valid Texas driver's license and no proof of liability insurance.

• Miami running back Ronnie Brown will likely miss Saturday's exhibition against Kansas City with a strained right thumb.