Crabtree returned to practice this week and said that he has lost 15 pounds and is finally feeling 100-percent, the Sacramento Bee reports. Crabtree missed the majority of the 2013 season with an Achilles injury and was hampered by an undisclosed injury this offseason. He is back on the practice field and claims he is 100-percent and also 15 pounds lighter than he was last season. Crabtree is in a contract year and will be looking to put up big numbers this season. Whether or not the undersized No. 1 receiver will be capable of doing that is still in question, but it appears as though health issues will not get in the way like they did last year.

Crabtree (undisclosed) took part in Wednesday's practice, Steve Corkran of the Contra Costa Times reports. Crabtree has been held out of practice since July 31 with what was believed to be a hamstring injury, but it appears he is feeling good enough to return to the field in some capacity. The 49ers will likely continue to take it easy with Crabtree, so his action could be limited over the team's remaining preseason games.

Crabtree will not play in Thursday's preseason opener and is expected to miss a week or two of training camp due to an undisclosed injury, CSN Bay Area reports. Crabtree left Wednesday's practice early with what is believed to be a mild hamstring strain. While 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh didn't reveal what Crabtree's injury was, Harbaugh did state it was unrelated to the wideout's foot or Achilles. To err on the side of caution, Crabtree could sit out the next couple weeks to ensure he's healthy as the regular season draws closer. While he's sidelined, Steve Johnson should see more work with San Francisco's first-team offense.

Colin Kaepernick believes Michael Crabtree is a "step or two quicker now" than he was last season as he recovered from his torn Achilles' tendon. "He has a burst out of his routes," Kaepernick said. "He has burst when he catches the ball. (He) looks really good out there." We don't normally place much stock in "so-and-so looks much quicker this summer" reports, but it's actually believable in Crabtree's case, as he's now more than a year removed from the injury that cost him 11 games in 2013. Crabtree is primed for a big bounce-back campaign as he plays in a contract year.

CSN Bay Area reports the 49ers are not "remotely close" to new contracts with walk-year players Michael Crabtree and Mike Iupati. That's according to "multiple sources." GM Trent Baalke insists the sides are "going to work at it," but added "at some point, you got to stop negotiating deals and let these guys concentrate on playing football." There's a chance the Niners end up letting both players walk.

Colin Kaepernick believes Michael Crabtree is all the way back to 100 percent following his 2013 Achilles' injury. "At the end of last year he still wasn't 100 percent," Kaepernick said. "He has a lot more burst to him now. Looks really good." Crabtree looked surprisingly good returning only seven months after his Achilles' tear last season, but clearly wasn't 100 percent. Now more than a year removed from going down, Crabtree should be ready to make hay in his contract year.

CSN Bay Area's Matt Maiocco believes it would be a "major surprise" if the 49ers signed Michael Crabtree to an extension before he hits free agency in 2015. Maiocco notes the 49ers are "not in the business of overpaying," and Crabtree is known to be seeking top dollar. Maiocco previously stated it was "doubtful" Crabtree would be slapped with the franchise tag, which will be worth over $12.3 million next offseason. Still only 26, Crabtree would be a hot item on the open market. He should be primed for a career-best season in his walk year.

Michael Crabtree is expected to seek "(nothing) less than a big-money deal" in extension talks with the 49ers. If the sides can't reach a compromise before next March, beat writer Matt Maiocco believes it's "doubtful" the Niners slap Crabtree with the franchise tag. The 2014 wideout tag was worth $12.3 million. It's worth remembering that Crabtree undertook a lengthy training camp holdout before signing his rookie contract. Crabtree's agent is known to drive a hard bargain. The 49ers have some tough decisions to make after locking up Colin Kaepernick.

CSN Bay Area considers $10 million annually to be contract-year WR Michael Crabtree's "absolute ceiling" for his next contract. Crabtree has just one 1,000-yard season to his name through five years. He's never topped nine touchdowns and has 22 through 63 regular-season games. Some of this can be attributed to playing in a run-heavy offense. Crabtree isn't going to take the top off a defense but is a precise route runner and has sure hands. He's a No. 1 receiver, but we'd bet his next deal averages $7-8 million per year. Crabtree is set to earn $3.5 million in the final year of his deal.

The Sacramento Bee believes Michael Crabtree is less likely to get a contract extension now.