For a guy coming off such a major injury, who is such a major part of the 49ers plan, the big news was relatively simply delivered.
“I’m ready to play,” wide receiver Michael Crabtree said, via Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com. “It’s been a long time coming.”
Crabtree practiced for three straight days this week without complication, and will be back on the field Sunday when the 49ers play the Rams, his first action since suffering a torn right Achilles in May.
Crabtree could be the shot of adrenaline the 49ers passing game needs, as quarterback Colin Kaepernick has looked lost at times without him this year. Crabtree led the team with 85 catches for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns last year, and no one’s approaching that level of production without him.
Anquan Boldin has been good (52-724-5) but the 49ers lack the kind of dynamic element Crabtree can bring. But Crabtree didn’t want to build up his return too much.
”I don’t want to hype nothing up,” Crabtree said. “I just want to go out there and play ball like I do every Sunday when I’m out there. It’s going to be good to be out there with everybody.
“It’s really going to be great to be out there with Anquan, though, somebody I looked up to when I was younger, and play beside him. Last year, I had Randy Moss. This year, it’s Anquan. Every year, they give me somebody that’s a vet.”
The vets are fine. What the 49ers need is someone who can stretch the field reliably to take the strain off the running game, and Crabtree’s their best bet to do that.