The 49ers’ issues at receiver will continue into the regular season.
Veteran Mario Manningham, added via free agency after making a catch for the ages during crunch time of Super Bowl XLVI, will stay on the Physically Unable to Perform list with a knee injury suffered in 2012.
That’s the announcement made Sunday by coach Jim Harbaugh.
It means that four of last year’s quintet of No. 1 wideouts in San Francisco won’t be available when the 2013 season begins. Gone are Randy Moss and Ted Ginn; injured are Manningham and Michael Crabtree.
Manningham had 42 catches in 12 games before tearing an ACL on December 23. His inability to suit up for Week One serves as a reminder that not every player recovers from a late-season ACL tear in time to be as good as ever when the next season begins.
The fifth No. 1 wideout from 2012, Kyle Williams, remains in the mix for significant playing time. First-round receiver A.J. Jenkins remains in danger of being cut.
Manningham can return to practice at any time between Week Six and Week 11. If/when he does, the 49ers have three weeks to add him to the active roster, or to shut him down for the season.