With the San Francisco 49ers losing receiver Michael Crabtree to injury on Tuesday, could the NFC champions look to bring Randy Moss back? ESPN lists the 36-year-old receiver as a possibility in San Francisco.
Moss joined San Francisco last season, but he was never a big part of their offense. He saw only 51 passes targeted to him, and he recorded just 28 catches for 434 yards and three touchdowns. He wanted a more prominent role in the offense, and he tweeted "good luck" to the 49ers in March before becoming a free agent.
Crabtree's injury changes things. With the team's No. 1 receiver out for months, Moss could have the opportunity to see more playing time if he returned. His familiarity with the playbook could also give him an advantage over other free agent receivers.
Real GM Football reports a source close to Moss as saying the receiver would be "willing to entertain an offer from the 49ers." A report from NFL.com's Ian Rapoport on Tuesday said that Moss left San Francisco on good terms and is staying in shape this offseason, which makes playing a possibility.
The question, then, is if 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is interested in Moss's services for another season. Harbaugh's comments on Wednesday suggest not.
"We're excited for the young receivers that we have," he said when asked about re-signing Moss. "Really feel that somebody's going to emerge there because they have to. And competition will create that. And we'll look forward to watching that."
The season hasn't begun yet, and a number of things could sway Harbaugh's stance in the weeks to come. Although other teams haven't overtly expressed interest in the future Hall of Famer, there's always the possibility of a midseason signing.
