When Michael Crabtree first signed his contract, the plan was to take him along slowly. He was going to play a few snaps in the slot position, and the 49ers would build from there. Today, however, the expectations are a lot more ambitious. By all accounts, Crabtree had some impressive practices during the 49ers bye week. He hung out with Frank Gore, Alex Smith and receivers coach Jerry Sullivan, and reportedly looked very good.
Mike Singletary said Crabtree's "progress is excellent" and that the rookie is "working his tail off." "Even though he came in late," Singletary said, "he looks like he's ready." Said Gore: "Watching him over the bye week, he looked explosive off the line. He's got great hands and runs good routes." Shaun Hill hasn't thrown very many passes to Crabtree, but that will change this week in practice. "You kind of think, 'ok, he's a little bit on the short side.'" Hill said of the 6-1 receiver. "But when he's out there playing and he gets his hands up and his arms out, he's big. He's big out there, a big target. Very strong hands to the ball. He attacks the ball. I think he's going to be good for us."
Asked about Crabtree's playing time Sunday against Houston, Singletary said it will depend on how Crabtree looks and performs in the game. "How much he plays - I think it depends on how much success he has."
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The 49ers have placed Jeff Ulbrich (concussion) on injured reserve, ending his season. Linebacker Matt Wilhelm, who played under defensive coordinator Greg Manusky when Manusky coached linebackers in San Diego, was signed on Monday. The 6-4, 245-pound Wilhelm has started 21 games since being drafted in the fourth round by the Chargers out of Ohio State in 2003. Wilhelm will wear No. 50.
Singletary said that Ulbrich, 32, would take on a role similar to that of cornerback Walt Harris, who also is on IR. That is, he'll continue to be part of the team throughout the season. "Jeff is the kind of guy you want around," Singletary said. "... He's like a coach on the field always." The neurological test results that were troubling for Ulbrich were better for safety Michael Lewis, Singletary said. There's been no determination whether Lewis will play Sunday in Houston, but he does not appear to be headed for injured reserve. If Lewis can't play, Mark Roman will step in at strong safety against the Texans' prolific pass offense.
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Where one offensive line rotation ends, another begins. Singletary said that Tony Pashos, who has been rotating with Adam Snyder at right tackle, has won the job. Snyder, however, will begin a similar rotation with Chilo Rachal at right guard. Rachal has struggled mightily in the last two games.
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Gore appears to be a full go for practice this week. He said the ankle injury that has kept him out of most of the last three contests did not bother him last week.
-- Matt Barrows
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