The foot injury that kept Michael Crabtree out of player-run practices in June is more serious than previously believed, and the 49ers' top wideout could miss four to six weeks of training camp and the preseason, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
That's why the 49ers were in the running for veteran wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who was traded from Cincinnati to New England earlier today. The 49ers will continue to pursue a veteran receiver on the free-agent market who could perhaps start opposite Josh Morgan when the season begins.
The exact nature of the injury is not known and the 49ers did not return calls Thursday night. Crabtree, who had surgery to correct a stress fracture in his left foot early in 2009, reinjured that foot on June 6, the first day of a player-run minicamp. At the time, Morgan said that Crabtree was sore from wearing new cleats on San Jose State's artificial surface playing field.
Crabtree's stock was already down and this will depress it even further to the point where he might be an interesting pick in the double-digit rounds. Josh Morgan is a perennial tease, but he averaged 3.8 catches for 72 yards and 0.3 TD over the final four games of 2010, so he's worth a flier late in drafts. The 49ers will continue to look for a veteran to replace Crabtree in the starting lineup.
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