The San Francisco 49ers signed Ottawa's Jesse Palmer yesterday after losing their top two quarterbacks to injuries.

The 6-foot-3, 225-lb. pivot was a fourth-round pick out of Florida by the New York Giants in 2001 and remained with the team until being released before this season.

"I'm just looking forward to coming in and working hard and trying to pick things up as quickly as I can," he said. "I'm ready to do whatever they ask me to do, and whatever I can do to help this team win."

The 26-year-old Palmer was more well known for his appearance on the television show The Bachelor than for anything he did on the field during four seasons with the Giants, for whom he completed 63-of-120 passes for 562 yards, with three touchdowns and four interceptions.

The 49ers made the move after No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith went down with strained knee ligaments and backup Ken Dorsey hurt his ankle. Cody Pickett, the fourth-stringer at the start of the season, is expected to be San Francisco's fourth starter in five games when the 49ers face the Giants on Sunday. The Niners earlier traded Tim Rattay, their opening day starter, to Tampa Bay.

"It's difficult in my position because you are just waiting on injuries and that's often when your opportunity comes at this point into the season," Palmer said. "That's the reality of the business."