NFC champion San Francisco 49ers lost key receiver Michael Crabtree to a torn Achilles tendon, a major blow to a team with championship aspirations.
“Michael Crabtree underwent surgery to repair his Achilles tendon that he tore yesterday,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Surgery was successful and we do not anticipate it will be season-ending for Michael.”
Harbaugh would not speculate when Crabtree might return to play.
“I go hard for my friends, family and fans, just felt like I let everybody down,” Crabtree wrote on Twitter. “But I’ll be back ready!! I promise!”
While a torn Achilles usually is considered a season-ending injury, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Da’Quan Bowers returned to play during last season after suffering the injury earlier in the year.
USA Today first reported that Crabtree was hurt during Tuesday’s OTA, citing an unidentified source.
Harbaugh said Crabtree went in motion, planted to begin a route and “felt like somebody kicked him in the Achilles, which sometimes people say that feels like.” Having the operation right away was considered the best option so Crabtree has the chance to return this year–unlike running back Kendal Hunter last season, who had the same injury but the decision was made to wait some time before surgery.
“Good news is he woke up from the surgery and the first thing, asked the doctor how it went,” Harbaugh said. “(The doctor) talked about the success of the surgery and he didn’t anticipate he’d be out for the year. His comment to that was, ‘Got no choice but to be back.’ Every day now is a healing day, and that starts today.”
The 25-year-old Crabtree, the team’s 10th overall pick in the 2009 draft out of Texas Tech, had career highs last season with 85 receptions for 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns for the NFC champion Niners, who lost 34-31 to the Ravens in the Super Bowl.
In the postseason, Crabtree had 28 receptions for 285 yards and three touchdowns, including one score in the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
