Michael Crabtree Has a Torn Achilles, And He Could Miss the 2013 Season

Michael Crabtree suffered an Achilles tear yesterday, and will undergo surgery to repair it. That news puts a damper on what had been a celebration as the team learned they would host the 2106 Super Bowl in their new stadium.

Last year, Terrell Suggs tore his Achilles, and did come back to play for the Ravens in the second half of the season after starting the year on the PUP list. Crabtree will probably go the same route, though the timetable for recovery will vary, and that variation could be the difference between getting back on the field by late November, and not playing at all in 2013.

Crabtree really flourished over the second half of last year, coinciding with the insertion of Colin Kaepernick as the starting quarterback. Over the last 8 games, Crabtree had 46 catches for 665 yards and 6 touchdowns, numbers that would pro-rate to a 90 catch, 1,300 yard, double digit touchdown year. It continued in the postseason, where he averaged almost 100 yards a game and scored three times.

Now, San Francisco will need some of the young players to emerge, including last year’s first round pick A.J. Jenkins or this year’s 4th round selection Quinton Patton. The team also previously traded for Anquan Boldin, and you can expect Boldin to now be an even bigger part of the offense while Crabtree is out.

[photo via USA Today Sports Images]