Michael Crabtree (Achilles' surgery) said he'll begin rehab workouts Tuesday.

Michael Crabtree had the stitches removed from his torn right Achilles' tendon Monday. Crabtree underwent surgery to repair his full tear on May 22. Now that the stitches are out, he can begin the long rehab process. In a best-case scenario for the 49ers, Crabtree will contribute in the final month of the regular season.

Updating a previous item, coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Michael Crabtree's Achilles' tendon was "completely torn" during Tuesday's OTA practice, and the injury was to Crabtree's right Achilles'. So this wasn't a partial tear like Terrell Suggs' April 2012 Achilles' injury. For bookkeeping, we like to know which side of Crabtree's body was injured, the full extent of the injury, and all dates associated with his recovery, in order to provide accurate timelines in the future. Crabtree underwent surgery on Wednesday, May 22. Per Harbaugh, the full Achilles' tear occurred when Crabtree was "coming in motion and just planted and started a route, and it felt like someone kicked him in the Achilles'." The 49ers hope to have Crabtree back around Week 12.

Coach Jim Harbaugh insists that Michael Crabtree's Achilles' tendon tear is not a season-ending injury. The Niners aren't giving any kind of firm timetable, but the rehabilitation process typically takes at least six months. If Crabtree is back in exactly six months, he'd return for a Monday night game against the Redskins in Week 12. However, he'll almost certainly be eased back in slowly as the Niners keep their eye on having him make an impact in the playoffs. Owners in standard re-draft formats can cross Crabtree off their draft boards.

Michael Crabtree underwent surgery on his torn Achilles' Wednesday, and is expected to be sidelined a minimum of six months.

USA Today reports Michael Crabtree suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in Tuesday's OTAs session. It's a crushing blow for the 49ers, though they're holding out hope Crabtree can return at some point in 2013. Terrell Suggs and Da'Quan Bowers were both able to get on the field last season after suffering torn Achilles' in the spring, but neither ever seemed to make it all the way back to 100 percent. It will be an even tougher challenge for Crabtree, as receivers must constantly stop/start and change directions. It elevates Anquan Boldin to No. 1 receiver status, and places increased pressure on 2012 first-rounder A.J. Jenkins coming off his lost rookie season. Fourth-round pick Quinton Patton will now be no worse than the Niners' No. 3 receiver until Mario Manningham returns from his torn ACL. Even if it becomes clear Crabtree will play at some point this season, he shouldn't be considered more than a late-round flier in fantasy leagues.

Michael Crabtree says he temporarily lost his vision in the Super Bowl after a big hit from Baltimore's Jimmy Smith. "I'm not one to whine about nothing, but he hit me all in the face and I couldn't really see after he hit me," Crabtree. "Then (my vision) just came back. It's not concussion-like. When you get hit, it's going to feel like you can't see. It's going to feel intense. But it snapped back. It happens all the time in football." It's obviously not a long-term concern for the 49ers' ascendant No. 1 receiver, but another reminder of the costs of playing football.

Michael Crabtree said he felt Colin Kaepernick trusted him more than Alex Smith. In 10.5 games with Kaepernick (including playoffs), Crabtree averaged 5.9 catches for 88.6 yards and scored eight touchdowns. In 8.5 games with Smith, he was at 5.0 catches for 54.0 yards with four touchdowns. "Playing wide receiver, you need a quarterback who trusts you," Crabtree said. "I feel like he trusted me."

CSN Bay Area doesn't believe a long-term extension for Michael Crabtree is among the 49ers' top priorities. Crabtree, 26 in September, is signed through the 2014 season, so it's not a rush to get him a new deal. But beat writer Matt Maiocco thinks new deals for Colin Kaepernick, OLB Aldon Smith, LG Mike Iupati, and RT Anthony Davis are higher priorities than Crabtree. All five players are scheduled to hit free agency in 2015. If Crabtree continues to play like he did with Kaepernick last season, it could change San Francisco's thinking.

Michael Crabtree caught five balls for 109 yards and a touchdown as the 49ers lost Super Bowl XLVII to the Ravens. Crabtree turned in a highly productive 2012 stretch run and subsequent postseason, racking up 20 catches for 285 yards and three touchdowns in three playoff games. Although he let Colin Kaepernick down in the Super Bowl by letting a perfectly placed third-quarter bomb bounce of his hands, Crabtree redeemed himself plays later by pinballing off two Ravens for a 31-yard touchdown, 15 yards of which came after the catch. Crabtree has developed into arguably the NFL's premier run-after-catch receiver, south of Minnesota. He'll be tough to rank outside the top-15 wideouts for 2013 fantasy drafts.