NFL Player News

Wednesday, May 22

• 05/22/13 - 3:48PM ETMichael Crabtree : May Not Miss Entire Season

  Coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed that Crabtree indeed suffered a torn right Achilles tendon and underwent surgery Wednesday to repair it, the San Jose Mercury News reports.

  The report adds that Crabtree suffered a complete tear of his Achilles, while noting that Harbaugh indicated that the wideout is not expected to miss the entire 2013 season. That said, Harbaugh declined to give a timetable for Crabtree's return, with a late-season return probably representing a best-case scenario here.

• 05/22/13 - 1:18PM ETMichael Crabtree : Undergoes Achilles Surgery

  According to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, Crabtree has already undergone surgery on his torn Achilles tendon.

  Details will continue to trickle in with regards to the severity of Crabtree's Achilles tendon tear and the estimated timetable for his return, but either way, his injury will have a major impact on the 49ers' plans for the coming season. At first glance, the team's acquisition of Anquan Boldin takes on added importance, with the likes of A.J. Jenkins potentially in line for added opportunities, as well as TE Vernon Davis and WR Quinton Patton.

• 05/22/13 - 11:14AM ETMichael Crabtree : Reportedly Suffers Achilles Injury

  According to Mike Garafolo of USA Today, Crabtree will reportedly require surgery after suffering a torn Achilles during the 49ers' OTAs.

  Meanwhile, ESPN's Adam Schefter notes that Crabtree is undergoing additional tests to confirm the injury. We'll await verification of the report, but assuming Crabtree's Achilles is torn as feared, then he would be in line to miss most, if not all, of the coming season. While the 49ers could seek veteran help in the wake of this development, young receivers A.J. Jenkins and Quinton Patton could well be called upon to help fill the void.

Tuesday, May 21

• 05/21/13 - 6:56PM ETCharles Woodson : One-Year Deal With Oakland

  Woodson agreed to a one-year contract with the Raiders on Tuesday, FOX Sports' Jay Glazer reports.

  Woodson will return to the team that drafted him with the fourth pick in the 1998 draft. He appeared in just seven regular season games for the Packers last season, but did return for the club's two playoff games. Woodson figures to start opposite Tyvon Branch if he makes it through training camp healthy.

• 05/21/13 - 11:57AM ETRob Gronkowski : Kraft Hopeful

  Owner Robert Kraft indicated that he has received positive reports from doctors regarding Gronkowski's left forearm surgery, ESPN.com reports. "I'm not a medical person and things change day to day, but we were told that it was as good a report that we could have hoped for," Kraft said Tuesday.

  Now that doctors believe that a lingering infection in Gronkowski's forearm has cleared, back surgery could be on tap for the tight end in the coming weeks. As a result, Gronkowski's status for the regular season opener could possibly be affected, but Kraft remains hopeful on that front. Assuming no setbacks with his forearm, Gronkowski's next key step will be an evaluation next month to determine whether or not he needs to undergo the back procedure. Once that situation is clarified, Gronkowski's prognosis for training camp and beyond will hopefully become easier to gauge.

• 05/21/13 - 4:34AM ETTony Romo : Minor Back Surgery

  Romo will be out three weeks after undergoing minor surgery to remove a cyst from his back, the Dallas Morning News reports. "If this was the regular season and I had to play next week, I could," Romo said.

  He'll miss this week's OTAs, but should be fine for the start of training camp. If first-round draft pick Travis Frederick can help stabilize the middle of the Cowboys' offensive line, Romo could deliver some very big numbers this season.

Monday, May 20

• 05/20/13 - 3:47PM ETRob Gronkowski : Dealing With Back Issue is Next Up

  Gronkowski, whose forearm procedure Monday reportedly went well, plans to see a doctor in about 3-4 weeks to decide whether or not to have back surgery, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

  While Gronkowski's potential back surgery is viewed as minor, it's been a lengthy offseason grind health-wise for the tight end. Still, with good news Monday regarding his arm issue, Gronkowski can now focus on his rehab from the procedure, while also addressing with his back woes.

• 05/20/13 - 2:49PM ETRob Gronkowski : Surgery Goes Well

  With the infection in Gronkowski's forearm reportedly gone, doctors were able to replace the plate in the tight end's arm with a new one on Monday, NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports.

  Given that the new plate is now in his arm, the 10-11 week recovery clock is now ticking, which puts training camp within reach for Gronkowski, barring any setbacks or complications. With his arm problem finally addressed, Gronkowski's back issue can now be tackled, ideally concurrently with his recovery from Monday's procedure.

• 05/20/13 - 2:02PM ETKnowshon Moreno : Not Cleared For Live Reps

  Though Moreno (knee) was present at Monday's OTAs, he has not yet been cleared to take live reps, the Denver Post reports.

  Moreno is still bouncing back from a knee injury that he sustained in the playoffs last season, but on the plus side, the report notes that he seems to be running well. With Willis McGahee and Moreno not participating, Ronnie Hillman and Montee Ball saw added reps at Monday's OTA session.

• 05/20/13 - 9:51AM ETJosh Freeman : Looks Sharp at OTAs

  Coach Greg Schiano indicated that Freeman was sharp at Monday's OTAs, while displaying very good command and focus.

  Moreover, Schiano noted that Freeman has a better grasp on the Bucs' offense after a year in the current scheme, while adding that he doesn't think Freeman is bothered by talk of competition for his job. "He knows this is his team," said Schiano. There had been whispers that rookie Mike Glennon might be in the mix to overtake Freeman, but while Schiano will no doubt encourage a competitive preseason atmosphere, the QB job remains Freeman's to lose.

• 05/20/13 - 8:35AM ETTom Brady : Feels Good About Mechanics

  Brady feels good about his mechanics after working with former major league pitcher Tom House this offseason, NESN.com reports. "Going into my 14th year, I have never had more confidence in how I am throwing the football," Brady noted. "I've never felt better throwing the football."

  Despite all of his success, Brady is known as a hard worker, who is always trying to stay sharp and improve his craft. Prior to working with House, he was tutored for years by the late Tom Martinez. With no known injury concerns as the 2013 season approaches, and obvious confidence in his mechanics, Brady's biggest challenge in the coming months will be adjusting to a re-tooled wideout corps that now features Danny Amendola, who essentially replaced slot machine Wes Welker, as well as the likes of rookies Aaron Dobson and Josh Boyce, who are looking to make an impact on the outside. Meanwhile, veterans Julian Edelman, Donald Jones, Michael Jenkins and Lavelle Hawkins will also jostle for positioning on the team's WR depth chart.