It no longer matters that Michael Crabtree skipped training camp after being selected tenth in the 2009 draft, feeling he deserved the pay scale of a much higher selection. It also no longer matters that Crabtree missed San Francisco's first five games, watching from home as the 49ers compiled a 3-2 record without him. What's important now is that Crabtree finally signed his rookie contract, has worked hard over the last two weeks, and will see his first NFL action this Sunday in Houston. It's likely he'll even be in the starting lineup instead of current No. 2 wideout Josh Morgan.
"I'm helping him learn my position and take my position," Morgan told reporters in the locker room Monday, as he said that coaches informed him Crabtree and Isaac Bruce would start on Sunday.
While the rest of his teammates were spending time with family members and relaxing during the 49ers bye week, Crabtree stayed at team headquarters, learning the playbook and catching passes from backup quarterback Alex Smith and trainers who were still present.
Head coach Mike Singletary praised Crabtree this week calling his progress, "excellent" and commenting on his hard work and time spent with coaches to catch up. Singletary went so far as to warn Crabtree that he didn't have to prove anything on Sunday, even if he later told reporters, "How much he plays depends on how much success he has [in the game]."
Making it onto the field just two weeks after signing is impressive enough for the 22-year-old receiver from Texas Tech. It shows how valuable the coaching staff feels that Crabtree can be. Adding him to the starting lineup this soon also shows that the 49ers offense needs a big boost.
San Francisco ranks 30th in the league in passing offense, having only thrown for just 804 yards in five games. The receiving corps ranks 20th in yards per reception at 11.1 yards, while only five teams have fewer receiving touchdowns.
How much Crabtree helps will not only depend on how effectively he eases into the game plan but also how long the 6-foot-1, 214-pound rookie can remain on the field. You can be sure that Morgan will be ready to spell Crabtree if he tires easily from the new experience of blocking and route-running at the NFL level.
