Coming Soon To A San Francisco 49ers Roster Near You: Michael Crabtree
By Phil Watson
Jan 12, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) celebrates after a play against the Green Bay Packers during the fourth quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Packers 45-31. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Michael Crabtree will join the San Francisco 49ers active roster within the next week.
That’s not a surprise—the 49ers only have until Tuesday to make the decision and it’s unlikely they would put their best wide receiver on injured reserve if there’s even a chance he can help with a playoff push late in the season.
CSNBayArea.com reported Thursday that Crabtree could be activated before Monday night’s game against the Washington Redskins, but that it’s not likely he would be ready to play.
Crabtree practiced for a week leading up to the game against Carolina on Nov. 10, but the team then limited his participation in practice last week and this as the wideout continues to rehabilitate from a torn Achilles’ tendon.
When Crabtree was cleared to resume practice on Nov. 5, the clock started on a 21-day period during which the team could evaluate his recovery. The clock runs out on Tuesday, at which time the 49ers have to take him off the physically unable to perform list and either place him on the 53-man active roster or season-ending injured reserve.
The 49ers receiving corps without Crabtree has basically consisted of Anquan Boldin and a bunch of guys running around not catching passes.
Boldin has been targeted 76 times this season, according to ESPN.com. Next on the list of wide receiver targets is Kyle Williams with 27 and, well, he’s now a Kansas City Chief. Mario Manningham is third on the team with 10 targets and he’s only been active for two games.
And people are wondering why Colin Kaepernick appears to have regressed this season?
Kaepernick took the NFL by storm last year, going 5-2 in seven regular-season starts while completing 62.5 percent of his throws for 1,608 yards, 10 touchdowns and just three interceptions. In those seven games, he also ran 42 times for 238 yards and two scores. His quarterback rating in those seven starts was a sterling 99.9
In the playoffs, he set a single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback when he ran over and around the Green Bay Packers for 181 yards and two touchdowns in a 45-31 divisional playoff win and posted a 100.9 passer rating in three postseason games.
In 10 starts this season, the 49ers are 6-4 and Kaepernick’s rating has slipped to 81.8. He is completing just 56.2 percent of his passes for 1,802 yards and has 11 touchdowns with seven picks. He has run for4 335 yards on 56 carries and scored three times.
You have to think a healthy Crabtree will improve those numbers.