49ers wide receiver Joshua Morgan’s season ended when he was placed on injured reserve after breaking his lower leg week 5 vs. the Bucs. It was the worst possible time in Morgan’s otherwise healthy career for an injury like this to occur, during his contract year. Morgan is set for free agency at season’s end and after the team acquired WR Braylon Edwards many thought his days as a starter were over. But that was before the barrage of injuries to the WR core Morgan started every game through week 5 and was enjoying his best start to his career as the 49ers leading receiver (among the WRs, TE Vernon Davis is the teams overall leading receiver).

Shortly after the injury head coach Jim Harbaugh said in a rare candid statement that re-signing Morgan would be a priority this offseason. I’m a big fan of Morgan and despite the team having Michael Crabtree and Edwards who are both superior to Morgan he is one of the hardest working and better blocking WRs in the entire NFL an underrated skill.   Morgan a former 6th round pick out of Virginia Tech is starting to emerge and has good chemistry with QB Alex Smith.  Morgan will not receive long term offers or any high dollar short term offers from other teams due to the injury making it relatively easy for the 49ers to re-sign him if that’s in fact what they plan to do.   However, if a free agent happy team like the Redskins offers him a multiyear deal or big money in the short term I think the 49ers would be wise to pass. Don’t get me wrong Morgan is a nice player but he’s not worth big money and is easily replaceable. Should the 49ers bring Joshua Morgan back this offseason?  YOU DECIDE!

 
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The spotlight in the NFL right now is on Peyton Manning’s third neck surgery.  Manning has been the new iron man at quarterback starting 227 straight games.  He is expected to miss 2-3 months which puts the offense in the hands of Kerry Collins and almost dooms the season before it begins for Colts fans.  Jim Harbaugh returns to the NFL this weekend as Manning sits out.  Who was the last quarterback to start for the Colts other than Peyton Manning? Jim Harbaugh.

Regardless if the NFL lockout ends and a 2011 season begins 49ers center Eric Heitmann will be on the sidelines because of recent neck surgery.  Heitmann suffered two injuries in training camp last season, a neck injury and then a broken left leg, which caused him to miss the season.  His agent said the surgery repaired a ruptured disk in the centers neck and it will take six months for him to recover.

Heitmann was the 49ers iron man from 2004 to 2009 only missing two games because of injury.  He played well during those years and held together a weak offensive line.  He was expected to come back for 2011 and reclaim the starting role at center.  Heitmann’s replacement last season David Baas played well despite having not played many games at center.  Baas is a free agent who the 49ers needed to sign even before Heitmann’s injury.

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