49ers’ Harbaugh says Manningham out again, return unknown
San Francisco sits at 11-4 on the season, one game back of the NFC West leading Seattle Seahawks. The beneficiary of their second 5-game winning streak of the season, the 49ers still have a shot at the West crown and a first round bye in the playoffs if they can pull out a win at the Arizona Cardinals and the Seahawks lose at home against the St. Louis Rams.
While that scenario might be a longshot, one player that apparently won’t be on the field helping the cause is wide receiver Mario Manningham.
According to CSN Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco, head coach Jim Harbaugh “does not foresee” Manningham playing on Sunday.
Jim Harbaugh does not foresee Mario Manningham (knee) playing on Sunday.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) December 27, 2013
According to Bay Area News Group 49ers’ beat writer Cam Inman, Harbaugh had quite the cryptic report on Manngham’s knee injury.
Harbaugh on #49ers Manningham knee: "He'll consult w/ Drs and do what's in best interest of his career." Sounds ominous. Left warmups ystdy
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) December 27, 2013
Manningham tore ligaments in his knee last December and has missed nine of San Francisco’s fifteen games this year while rehabbing and/or nursing the injury.
In his first three games back, Manningham caught 8 passes for 83 yards but has been limited to just one catch for 2 yards in his previous three – which came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 15th.
Mannigham sat out Monday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons.