SANTA CLARA -- Receiver Joshua Morgan's contract expires at the end the season. He will not play before then, as the 49ers placed him on injured reserve Wednesday.Still, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh has informed Morgan he wants him on the team next season."Yes, we've told him that," Harbaugh said Wednesday. "And we'll make that a priority."Morgan underwent season-ending surgery Monday to insert screws into his broken right lower leg. There was ligament stretching, but no torn ligaments in his ankle, Harbaugh said.
"He woke up and was a little groggy," Harbaugh said. "The first thing he said was, 'That's football.' He'll be back and we have no doubts of that. I talked to Josh again yesterday. He's resting. His brothers are in town. He's doing well."The 49ers signed free-agent receiver Brett Swain to take Morgan's spot on the 53-man roster. Swain was signed over veterans T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Brian Finneran and Chris Chambers, along with practice-squad players Joe Hastings and John Matthews."We had some guys here, some really top-level guys, and we let them compete for the spot," Harbaugh said. "We let the guys go out and compete for it. The workout was outstanding. It was a heck of a group, but we thought Brett stood out."The receivers took part in a 40-yard dash, Harbaugh said, which Hastings won.--Harbaugh said he expects nose tackle Isaac Sopoaga to return to practice Wednesday. Sopoaga missed last week due to a staph infection.--Cornerbacks Shawntae Spencer and Chris Culliver will compete this week during practice for the role of the 49ers' No. 3 cornerback for the game Sunday against the Detroit Lions, Harbaugh said.
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