"Coach Jim Harbaugh said Sunday the 49ers would "kick the tires" on veteran quarterback Daunte Culpepper, who played last year for the United Football League's Sacramento Mountain Lions.

Culpepper, 34, is due to work out today for 49ers coaches and scouts and is the first known veteran passer to visit the 49ers during free agency.

"It's an opportunity to look at a veteran quarterback, put a third guy on the roster who's been there before and has game experience," Harbaugh said. "So (we will) see where he's at physically, see where he's at mentally, emotionally. … Looking forward to a good workout."

Finding a veteran quarterback became more imperative for the 49ers following Friday's exhibition loss to the New Orleans Saints. Starter Alex Smith was sacked twice and absorbed three crushing hits against the Saints' blitzing defense. On the first hit, he was driven into the playing surface on his twice surgically repaired throwing shoulder but quickly popped to his feet uninjured.

After Smith, the 49ers have three rookie quarterbacks on the roster. One of them, second-round draft pick Colin Kaepernick, entered the game early in the second quarter and played until the game's end. Kaepernick showed flashes of promise and led the team in rushing. But he also threw two interceptions, fumbled twice and was sacked four times.

The 49ers acknowledged Friday that they weren't expecting the Saints to blitz as much as they did, and they practiced their blitz pickup assignments throughout a Sunday afternoon practice in front of 8,200 fans at Candlestick Park."