The San Francisco 49ers dealt with a tough injury in the offseason after Michael Crabtree suffered a torn Achilles' tendon injury and the team is looking to try and replace some of his production with free agent wideout Austin Collie, who visited the team on Thursday.
According to ESPN.com, the team had Collie in for a workout and got a look at him after the New England Patriots also brought him in for a workout. The report says that Collie is coming back from knee and concussion injuries and that kept him out of all but one game last season with the Colts. Collie has had three concussions during that time and he said that he would sign a waiver to play for a team again. Collie was a solid option for the Colts until he was injured and now he is looking for a new roster to join.
Collie has made over 170 catches during his career with 16 touchdowns and he has played in 42 regular season games with nearly 2,000 receiving yards. The 49ers need some help at the position after Crabtree's injury and the team also has Anquan Boldin, former first round pick AJ Jenkins as well as n Mario Manningham and rookie Quinton Patton. Collie had some good years with Peyton Manning with the Colts and he could be a huge addition for the 49ers.
ESPN compared the stats for Collie and Crabtree and amazingly enough they are not that far off from each other over 2009 to 2011 before Collie was hurt, as both played in over 40 games, with Crabtree in 42 and Collie in 41. Crabtree had three more receptions than Collie for about 300 more yards, but apart from that, the stats are fairly even, with Collie having four more touchdowns and a slightly less average per catch.
The fact that the two are close bodes well for Collie, but only if he can prove to the team that he is healthy. The 49ers could use a player like him in their offense with Colin Kaepernick and while Boldin will be like a number one now, the team needs some depth.
