Two days of review for 49ers before Packers game

Unlike most practice weeks when the 49ers finish the bulk of their preparation on Friday, the club wrapped up their significant on-field work today.

 

The 49ers will now have two walk-through practices – short review sessions — before hitting Lambeau Field for Sunday’s game. The club will have a walk through tomorrow morning in Santa Clara before taking a flight to Green Bay on Friday afternoon.

 

Coach Mike Singletary said this unusual format gives the team a little extra time for film work and review before facing the Packers, a team that has shown a lot of different wrinkles in their first nine games this season. The 49ers last played a week ago, so the advantage of having extra days before a game comes at a good time

 

But Singletary admits that might some issues because this week has been a break in the typical routine. The 49ers usually practice base offense on Wednesday, third downs on Thursday and red-zone on Friday. This week, they moved up each of those sessions up a day.

 

“Green Bay offensively and defensively does a lot of different things,” Singletary said. “They don’t play a true 3-4, so it’s good for us that we have an extra day of preparation.”

 

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Linebacker Takeo Spikes did not practice due to his hamstring injury. He’s been spending a lot of time in his personal hyperbaric chamber in hopes of healing well enough to play. Singletary said Spikes is “day to day.” If he’s unable to play, veteran Matt Wilhelm will start at the “ted” linebacker position.

 

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Singletary said he has not spoken to the team about the playoffs. The game Sunday is very important, of course. But Singletary said, “Every game has playoff implications for us.”

 

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Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree will be the starting receivers on Sunday. Jason Hill said he expects to see playing time, but figures veteran Isaac Bruce is likely to start off as the No. 3 receiver.

 

Crabtree had his weekly interview session with reporters. I asked him about a “knee” injury that showed up on the Wednesday practice report. Crabtree said he has no injury. He said an injury is something that forces players to miss practice time or limits their speed. He said he just has a little bruise on his knee.

 

When asked what from his game he has yet to show in the NFL, Crabtree wasted no time in answering. “YAC.”

 

He was known at Texas Tech for turning short passes into long gains. He said it won’t be long before that aspect of his game is on display. After all, he noted, “I’ve only played four games.”

 

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You can now subscribe to my podcasts on iTunes. Here’s that link. (They’re the same podcast I post on this blog.) I’ll have one ready to go tomorrow. Any guesses?

 

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Michael Robinson was excused from practice today “for personal reasons.” A club spoksman said, “It’s nothing bad.” Robinson will make the trip to Green Bay. 

 

49ERS INJURY REPORT

OUT: CB Nate Clements (shoulder), LT Joe Staley (knee).

Did not practice: LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring), RB Michael Robinson (not injury related).

Limited practice: DL Justin Smith (back). 

Full practice: WR Isaac Bruce (ankle, elbow), RB Glen Coffee (concussion), WR Michael Crabtree (knee), DL Demetric Evans (shoulder), S Michael Lewis (quadriceps), S Mark Roman (knee), T Adam Snyder (shoulder).

 

PACKERS INJURY REPORT

Did not practice: LB Desmond Bishop (ankle), DE Cullen Jenkins (ankle), C Scott Wells (concussion).

Limited practice: T Allen Barbre (ankle), DE Johnny Jolly (back), RB John Kuhn (hand), LB Clay Matthews (jaw).

Full practice: CB Charles Woodson (hip), LB Brad Jones (concussion), LB Brandon Chillar (hand), TE Jermichael Finley (knee), LB Aaron Kampman (concussion), T Mark Tauscher (knee), LB Brady Poppinga (quadriceps).

 

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