The Seahawks aren’t the only NFC West team hoping for the return of an injured wide receiver from the physically unable to perform list.
The 49ers have two of them, actually. Both Mario Manningham and Michael Crabtree are eligible to start practicing next week, although coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that it will be a while before Crabtree’s ready to go after his Achilles surgery. Harbaugh said Crabtree has resumed running and that a mid-November return is possible.
Manningham, however, could be back on the field next week. Harbaugh included him among a list of several players on either the PUP or non-football injury lists that could participate in practice as soon as they are eligible, offering some hope for a passing game that’s been knocked off stride of late.
“I believe they are, next week,” Harbaugh said, via Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle. “So we’re counting down the days. Been counting down the weeks -- and now down to one week -- with quite a few guys. Tank Carradine. Quinton Dial. Mario Manningham. Eric Wright. All guys that have the possibility of starting practicing next week. So excited about that.”
Carradine and Dial would be welcome additions on a defensive line that lost Ian Williams for the season and is waiting for results on an MRI of Ray McDonald’s injured bicep. Wright would likely be in the mix for snaps in sub packages at cornerback for the Niners once he’s able to resume practicing.