San Francisco 49ers 2011: Injury Could Keep Michael Crabtree Out of Preseason

Michael Crabtree has yet to play a preseason game in the NFL. That streak could continue, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee.

Barrows got wind that Crabtree's lingering foot injury may keep him out of preseason play, saying,

"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.
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Crabtree's holdout situation in his rookie season and injury last year has made him unavailable for the preseason every year of his NFL career.

To say that it's disappointing for the 49ers is an understatement. Crabtree was drafted 10th overall, but has failed to have the sort of impact the 49ers were looking for. With Jim Harbaugh taking over as head coach, the offense, and Crabtree for that matter, were expected to take huge strides this season.

Now, with Eric Heitmann's neck injury keeping him out for another season, David Baas joining the Giants, Frank Gore holding out and Crabtree's foot injury still an issue, the 49ers offense is continuously looking more suspect.

The 49ers have to insert a new offense and have their main offensive weapon in Gore holding out and their No. 1 receiver unavailable due to injury. They were going to have a tough enough time getting in sync if everything went perfectly for them in the shortened offseason.

There is of course the possibility that Crabtree's injuries linger into the early weeks of the season too. There may be an expected timetable for his return, but who knows when he will be 100 percent.

It's a huge blow to the 49ers and Harbaugh, who is getting a less than ideal welcoming to life as an NFL head coach.

Follow Kyle Vassalo on Twitter at @ASU52