Crabtree: ‘I'm in the flow'

SANTA CLARA -- Receiver Michael Crabtree participated in team drills for the first time Tuesday since sustaining a strained right calf muscle in practice on July 27."I don't know too much about injuries," Crabtree said. "You think I would. It's always something different in football. It was just my calf, and I just had to stay off it. I didn't want anything serious to happen to it. It's the training staff and coaches, and when they tell me I can go, I'm going."Just before entering the locker room after the afternoon practice, Crabtree was stopped and agreed to answer some questions. It was the first time Crabtree has spoken to the media since the end of last season.Here is some of what he had to say:On returning to practice:
"I'm in the flow. I did everything I'm supposed to do today, pretty much taking it one day at a time practicing, a lot of routes, in and out of my cuts, timing with quarterbacks."On whether he will be able to play Friday night:
"Friday night? Yeah I should. I don't think the ones (starters) are going that much Friday. Whatever time they give me, I'll just go out there."On how he felt at practice today:
"I felt good. I'm running good. I didn't have any problems out there. Really practicing. I didn't feel like anything was holding me back or anything like that. Just cruising through practice."Is it frustrating to have your training camp cut short every year?
"How short was it cut this year?""A full week"
"For like a week? I'm sure a lot of guys go through that, right? Does everybody go every day of camp? . . . I'm here. I'm not missing a beat."It's not frustrating for you?
"I don't really think about it like that. I think of it as football. And whenever I can go, I'm going. If I can't go or they don't let me go, I can't be out there. But I look at it as football. I'm listening to the training staff and coaches on what's wise for me to do. It's football."How beneficial was a full offseason for you?
"It wasn't my first full offseason, if you really want to know. But it was good to be with Alex (Smith) and the whole team and really the new guys who came in. It was really good to be with those guys, (Randy) Moss and (Mario) Manningham, and putting everything together. I'm here, man. Whatever I need to do on the field, I'm going to do."On being alongside Randy Moss:
"It's great. You get to learn a lot of stuff, little techniques. Really learn football, talk football. He's amazing, man. You can't do nothing but learn."How's he going to help you on the field?
"Everybody helps each other. It's not just about Moss. Vernon. We got Delanie (Walker). Teddy (Ginn), coming in strong. Teddy's having a good camp. Manningham. It's everybody together. We all going to help each other out and get this thing rolling as a passing offense. Whatever coach has for us. I've been talking to Moss about blocking today, too. . . . We're talking."Do you think the passing offense can be a lot better than a year ago?
"Every year I think we can get better. Every year is the year to get better. Of course, I'm thinking like that this year. Really just getting into that end zone. That's the goal for this year. Wideouts, quarterback and offense, as one. Put some points up. I'm sure that's what everybody's planning to do. We just got to go out and do it."Is next step for you to go through a full practice?
"Whatever the trainers got for me. I can go. I got a lot of reps today. I feel like I did. The only thing I didn't do was 'two minute.' But I'm out here. I'm healthy. I'm good enough to run without any pain. I'm here, man."Thoughts on rookie A.J. Jenkins:
"Every day he gets better. That's what I tell A.J. 'Every day is a chance to get better.' A.J. is looking good. All those rookies are looking good. No 9 (Brian Tyms), 89 (Nathan Palmer), those guys are out there working."Are you a little frustrated with the questions about your injuries?
"Frustrated? I'm just talking. I don't like how you use those words 'frustrated.' Ain't nobody frustrated. It's football."Does it get old talking about injuries?
"No. It's a part of football. I mean you see somebody injured everyday. That's news. It's a part of football. It's a physical game. And I know how to deal with it. I've been here. I know how to deal with it. I'm sure you guys know when they say, 'Hut,' I'm going full speed. If I'm 100 percent, I'm going. I'm not worried about that. I'm really just worried about what we're going to do in these games and practice, and try to get better every day. That's all I can do."