SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)
Just as the passing game has started to click for the San
Francisco 49ers at last, here comes Michael Crabtree.
The team's top wide receiver from 2012 is back on the active
roster six months after Achilles tendon surgery and poised to make
his season debut Sunday against St. Louis if all goes as hoped
during practice this week.
''There's things he does that he's the best in football at, and
that certainly bodes well for us and we're excited about it,''
coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday. ''Catching the ball, there's
routes that he runs, tackles he breaks, plays that he makes.
There's evidence there.''
Adding Crabtree to the mix for the 49ers (7-4) would provide a
big boost to a receiving corps that made significant strides in a
27-6 win at Washington on Monday night. Crabtree became Colin
Kaepernick's top target last year and had career bests of 85
receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns.
''I'm good,'' Crabtree said but he wouldn't elaborate. He was
activated from the physically unable to perform list Tuesday to the
53-man active roster.
Harbaugh won't tip his hand too early in the week, while also
noting that everything depends on how Crabtree gets through
practice.
''Good meetings this morning. Good sessions there. Bright-eyed
and ready to go,'' Harbaugh said before the team practiced
Wednesday. ''Optimistic like I said the other day. Hope for the
best and we'll have a plan if he's not able to go. It's pretty much
that simple.''
Mario Manningham continues to impress playing opposite Anquan
Boldin after three games back following knee surgery last year.
Manningham hopes his unit can build off a strong performance and
develop some consistency.
''We've just got to do it every week. We can't be
inconsistent,'' Manningham said. ''We've got to come out like that
every week.''
Manningham and tight end Vernon Davis each made four catches at
Washington, while Boldin had five receptions and a pair of
touchdowns.
Now, if Crabtree is back in the mix, defenses will have a harder
time double-teaming Davis downfield.
''It will be great to have Crab back. He's a great talent,''
left tackle Joe Staley said. ''Everybody knows what he can do and
is excited to see him back out there. I know he's excited to get
back out there, the way he competes and all the hard work he's put
in to get back.''
Kaepernick isn't ready to guess whether he might be throwing
passes Crabtree's way again this weekend.
''That's going to be his call 100 percent,'' Kaepernick
said.
Crabtree has made steady progress back from his injury. He tore
his right Achilles tendon during 7-on-7 drills in an organized team
activity May 21 then had surgery. The NFC champion Niners said from
the beginning they thought he would return this season after
Crabtree was a huge reason the franchise reached the Super Bowl
again for the first time in 18 years.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher is preparing his defense as if Crabtree
will be on the field, and prepare for a variety of ways Crabtree
might be utilized. He noted ''it's hard for us to predict.''
''It gives them an additional weapon. Michael's an outstanding
player. Hope he might wait another week,'' Fisher said. ''We're
expecting him to play. You go back and look before the injury and
what he did for them, and we're familiar with that. Our young group
of DBs is going to be challenged. ... Certainly you're not going to
play the player if he's not fit to play, 100 percent and fully
recovered from the injury.''
Everybody involved is eager to see what Crabtree's presence
could mean to make the offense that much more explosive. San
Francisco's passing attack sits in last place at 32nd in the
NFL.
''It could be real dangerous,'' running back Frank Gore said.
''I'm happy to see that. If he feels good, I think he'll play. He
looks good to me in practice. Hopefully he'll play. Crab's a beast,
man.''
Notes: DT Ray McDonald hoped to practice at near full strength
this week after beginning to run on his high left ankle sprain
Tuesday. ''Just day to day now,'' he said. ''I don't want to speak
too soon. There's hope.'' ... Harbaugh was happy with CB Tramaine
Brock's performance in his start at Washington in place of the
injured Tarell Brown and said Brock could compete to stay in the
starting lineup even once Brown is healthy. ''Does he have the
opportunity, the license to do that? Sure,'' Harbaugh said.
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