Michael Crabtree tears Achilles during 49ers OTAs

[MrBill]

Not good news for 49ers fans...

Michael Crabtree tears Achilles during 49ers OTAs
By Dan Hanzus
Published: May 22, 2013 at 01:53 p.m.
Updated: May 22, 2013 at 02:30 p.m.

Michael Crabtree's 2013 season might be over before it began.

NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reported that the San Francisco 49ers wide receiver suffered a torn Achilles tendon during organized team activities on Tuesday, according to a person informed of the injury.

Crabtree soon will undergo surgery to repair the tendon. The surgery could be season-ending, though it's possible Crabtree could return at some point this season.

USA Today's Mike Garafolo was the first to report the news.

It's a brutal development for the 49ers, who watched Crabtree bloom into a Pro Bowl-level receiver in his fourth season. Crabtree set career highs in receptions (85), yards (1,105) and touchdowns (nine). His production took off after Colin Kaepernick replaced Alex Smith as the starting quarterback.

If there's a silver lining for the Niners, it's the progress that's been made in the treatment of this type of injury. An Achilles tear was once an instant season-ender, but that's changed in recent times.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da'Quan Bowers both tore the same tendon last spring and rejoined their respective teams after stays on the player unable to perform list.

That said, neither player was close to 100 percent when they got back on the field. Expect Crabtree to regain his pre-injury explosiveness over the next eight months is probably wishful thinking.

The Niners' acquisition of Anquan Boldin is especially huge now. With Crabtree down and Mario Manningham and Kyle Williams recovering from serious knee injuries, San Francisco doesn't have much depth at receiver. This would be an ideal time for 2012 first-round pick A.J. Jenkins to upgrade from spectator status.

Vernon Davis, meanwhile, may have just found some of those targets that alluded him a year ago.

 

[Glenbino]

Jenkins and Patton are going to need to grow up in a hurry.

 

[f16harm]

 

[ram29jackson]

LOL who ever gets to be Kaeps first read is a lucky man now.

 

[Realist]

 

[KINGOFOOTBALL]

49ers really pushing to move the NFL draft to June.

 

[Hasselbeck]

I imagine he will go on the IR list that allows him to come back midseason. If there is any fortunate thing about having an Achilles' injury.. it's having it on May 21 as opposed to during the season.

 

[Aso]

I imagine he will go on the IR list that allows him to come back midseason. If there is any fortunate thing about having an Achilles' injury.. it's having it on May 21 as opposed to during the season.

I don't know about mid-season, I'm guessing he'll be back for the playoffs though.

 

[Villain]

Jenkins and Patton are going to need to grow up in a hurry.

All of the SF Gate and Niners Nation articles I've been reading that have been hyping those two up this Spring better be accurate! They say that Jenkins has gotten a lot more muscular and has been working with Kaep. Wishful thinking..

He hasn't officially retired. I'm sure he'd be willing to come back, as scary as that is.

Basically, this is how I felt when I got the news during breakfast this morning.. ugh.

LOL who ever gets to be Kaeps first read is a lucky man now.

 

 

[ram29jackson]

your image link is broken

 

[Villain]

your image link is broken

Vernon Davis.

 

[f16harm]

How genius does the Anquan Boldin move look now??

 

[Point Blank]

How genius does the Anquan Boldin move look now??

Almost forgot about that move..

 

[Hasselbeck]

How genius does the Anquan Boldin move look now??

Yeah it took a lot of balls to fork over a 6th round pick for him.

 

[Hasselbeck]

I don't know about mid-season, I'm guessing he'll be back for the playoffs though.

6 month recovery time.

Surgery happened May 21.

otatoes:

 

[ThomasTomasz]

Davis, Jenkins and Boldin are still an impressive trio of targets. If any team has the depth to overcome an injury like this, it's San Francisco. I imagine they will continue to monitor the trade market and could spare a draft pick or two for a receiver if someone becomes available.

 

[f16harm]

Yeah it took a lot of balls to fork over a 6th round pick for him.

Yeah I know, they could have not wanted him at all and offered nothing considering the depth they already had.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Yeah I know, they could have not wanted him at all and offered nothing considering the depth they already had.

WR was actually a position of need for the 49ers coming into the offseason. They weren't bringing Moss back, Manningham just tore his ACL and Kyle Williams was also coming off an ACL tear. The Boldin move came to fruition because the Ravens were clearing salary to lock up Flacco (and Ellerbe .. oops), and John H asked Jim H if they'd be interested.

So I'd say the move was less "genius" and more fortunate that it happened, given this injury.

 

[Hasselbeck]

Davis, Jenkins and Boldin are still an impressive trio of targets. If any team has the depth to overcome an injury like this, it's San Francisco. I imagine they will continue to monitor the trade market and could spare a draft pick or two for a receiver if someone becomes available.

Jenkins? No. Davis and Boldin, I suppose.

Boldin had a hot streak at the perfect time.. during the regular season he was pretty average - only topping 100 yards ONCE and finishing with 921 yards overall (61 yards a game).

 

[St. Francisco]

Boldin is a similar player IMO, so hopefully he can fill the void left by Crabtree. But we definitely need Manningham and Williams to hurry up and get healthy, Jenkins to stop being a rookie beyotch and show up, and for Davis to stop disappearing for games at a time. I've got high hopes for the rookie Patton as well. It's a big loss for the team, but I don't think it's a nail in the coffin or anything.