Morgan bumps Bruce down a spot

<p>Josh Morgan went out of his way during the bye week to help the player who was tabbed to replace him as a 49ers starting wide receiver.</p><p>It was the ultimate in selflessness, as Morgan provided counsel to freshly signed rookie Michael Crabtree. But the demotion Morgan expected never occurred.</p><p>Instead, veteran Isaac Bruce is the one who found himself aced out of a starting job. And that hardly comes as a surprise to the 16-year veteran who ranks statistically as one of the top receivers in NFL history.</p><p>“I knew I was holding that spot for Josh,” Bruce said Tuesday. “He's ready to play. He's ascending and improving a lot.”</p><p>Bruce made the 200th — and possibly last — start of his NFL career at Houston on Oct. 25 when the 49ers diplomatically opened with a three-receiver set against the Texans that included Crabtree and Morgan.</p><p>But Bruce was on the sideline when the 49ers' offense took the field in the next two games against Indianapolis and Tennessee. The day before the 49ers' game last Thursday against Chicago, Bruce made an appearance on the team's official injury report with an ankle injury.</p><p>Bruce did not suit up for the 49ers' game. Coach Mike Singletary intimated Bruce will be back in uniform Sunday when the 49ers face the Green Bay Packers, but he made no promises of playing time.</p><p>“We'll see,” Singletary said. “I know he's not starting. Whether he's No. 3, No. 4 or No. 5, I don't know right now.”</p><p>The logical choice for the team's No. 3 receiver is Jason Hill, who replaced Bruce late in the first half two weeks ago against the Titans and caught two touchdown passes from quarterback Alex Smith.</p><p>But Singletary was ready to announce only that Morgan had earned the right to start ahead of Bruce, who has just 20 receptions for 244 yards with no touchdowns. In essence, Singletary announced there will be no change. After all, Morgan has started all nine games this season.</p><p>Bruce resists the suggestion that he has served as a mentor to the team's young receivers. But Morgan said he has learned a lot from his “life coach” about issues other than football. As far as the tenets of the job, Morgan said he gleans as much as possible from “one of the best route-runners to play the game.”</p><p>Bruce is in the final year of his contract, and does not figure to return to the 49ers next season. Morgan and Crabtree have a chance to team together for a long time.</p><p>“I like the progression,” Singletary said. “I just want to see it faster. I want to see when Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree line up, the (the defense) has issues on both sides.</p><p>“I think Josh Morgan is extremely talented. He's extremely physical. There are just a lot of things that he can do and present a lot of issues for a defense. So, I'm just looking for the time that, and hopefully soon, where he presents a lot of issues over there.”</p><h3>EXTRA POINTS</h3> <p>Cornerback Nate Clements (shoulder) and tackle Joe Staley (knee) will not play Sunday against the Packers. Linebacker Takeo Spikes (hamstring) is day-to-day, Singletary said. Veteran Matt Wilhelm will get the start, if Spikes is unable to play.</p><p>Rookie running back Glen Coffee and defensive lineman Demetric Evans will both play, Singletary said. Evans missed two games with a shoulder injury, while Coffee was sideline for one game with a concussion.</p><p>Fill-in left tackle Barry Sims is doing an “outstanding” job in place of Staley, Singletary said. However, Sims probably will not remain in the starting lineup once Staley returns (possibly for the Dec. 14 game against the Arizona Cardinals).</p><p>When asked if Sims might move to to right tackle? Singletary answered, “Probably not. (Adam) Snyder is doing a good job on that side.”</p><p>The NFL announced the leading vote-getters for the Pro Bowl at each position. Patrick Willis, who made the Pro Bowl both of his first two seasons, leads NFC inside linebackers in votes.</p><p>For more on the 49ers, go to Instant 49ers at blog.pressdemocrat.com/49ers. You can reach Staff Writer Matt Maiocco at matt.maiocco@pressdemocrat.com</p>