49ers notes: Harbaugh stabilizes snaps for Moss

SANTA CLARA – Wide receiver Randy Moss has been averaging 20 snaps a game, and 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on Wednesday said he didn't see that number going up anytime soon.

Harbaugh said Moss' snap count had more to do with the team's depth at the position and the various packages used by the 49ers than the receiver's 35-year-old legs.

"I don't think there's any doubt he could do it," Harbaugh said when asked if Moss could play more. "It's a good mix right now. … We have a lot of combinations. We have a lot of things that we can use right now. It's more that."

During training camp, Harbaugh said the 49ers had five No. 1 wideouts, and he's followed through by playing all five during the regular season.

Michael Crabtree has had the most snaps, followed by Mario Manningham, Kyle Williams and Moss. Ted Ginn returned from an injury Sunday.

After being targeted a season-high six times in Week 3 at Minnesota, the 49ers went to Moss' direction only once Sunday against the New York Jets. That 50-plus-yard throw from Colin Kaepernick fell incomplete.

Soft sighting – Harbaugh said he had to boot Frederick P. Soft from the premises last month.

No, the mythical little guy who whispers fawning praise into the ears of winning squads didn't appear between the Detroit and Minnesota games.

Observers noted that actors Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were prominent after the victory over the Lions and wondered whether their appearance was related to the 49ers' flat effort against the Vikings.

Not so, Harbaugh said.

"Looking back, we had good preparation," he said. "I felt we played hard, thought we gave very good effort. And we, uh, we didn't win that game."

Instead, Harbaugh said the sighting occurred on a Wednesday "three or four weeks back."

Safety Donte Whitner didn't remember the exact date, either. But he also said it was a Wednesday, when players typically have to juggle remnants of the most recent game and the game plan for the upcoming contest as well as return to practice.

"A lot of guys don't like Wednesday practice," Whitner said.

Et cetera – Nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga and running back Brandon Jacobs were on hand for the start of practice, meaning that every member of the 53-man roster was in uniform.

• Linebacker NaVorro Bowman was hindered somewhat by a wrap over his right arm. He also wore a black, "noncontact" jersey during practice.

• Linebacker Patrick Willis was named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week. He had 10 tackles and an interception and batted down a pass against the Jets.

• Read more articles by Matthew Barrows

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