Wallace gives Packers veteran backup to Rodgers

GREEN BAY, WIS. The Green Bay Packers will have a veteran backup for Aaron Rodgers after all.

Quarterback Seneca Wallace, who was released by the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday, signed with the Packers on Monday. He will start preparing for Sunday’s season opener, which — coincidentally — is against the 49ers.

Quarterback Scott Tolzien, another 49ers castoff, also signed with the Packers, who released veteran Vince Young on Saturday.

Wallace, 33, said news reports that he was considering retirement were a miscommunication. A week ago, he was listed behind Colin Kaepernick, Colt McCoy and B. J. Daniels on the 49ers depth chart. Now he’s No. 2 behind one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks.

“I think it’s been some years since they had a veteran backup to help ( Rodgers) during the game and meetings,” Wallace said. “It’s exciting just to be able to keep playing on this journey.” Tebow II? New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick declined to rule out bringing back quarterback Tim Tebow, who was cut Saturday.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen here in the year, but certainly we’ve had a lot of players who’ve left here and come back here,” Belichick said. “It’s happened here already.” Green light: New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz appears ready for the team’s opener at the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday. Cruz practiced Monday for the first time since bruising his left heel in a preseason game Aug. 18.

“I was going full speed,” said Cruz, who has led the team in receiving the last two seasons. “I wasn’t holding anything back. I don’t play like that. I don’t practice like that. It’s hard to gauge yourself when you don’t go full speed. I was out there going full speed, and it felt good.” Looks like Geno: Coach Rex Ryan and the New York Jets are wait- ing to announce a starting quarterback for their opener, but all signs point to rookie Geno Smith.

“If my chance is Sunday, I’m going to go out there with the intent to lead my team to victory,” Smith said Monday.

The Jets continued to shuffle their backup quarterbacks, signing Brady Quinn, who was dumped by the Seattle Seahawks, and releasing Graham Harrell, who had signed Wednesday.