Crabtree limps out of game

SAN FRANCISCO — It was a happy 2011 opener for quarterback Alex Smith, for the 49ers' maligned offensive line, for San Francisco's dominant front seven and, especially, for rookie coach Jim Harbaugh. For wide receiver Michael Crabtree, the outlook was much cloudier.

Crabtree played sparingly in the first half, dropped a pass, made just one reception for 4 yards, saw action in one second-half series — and then retired to the sidelines for the rest of the afternoon.

Afterward, the third-year receiver explained that his troublesome foot began bothering him again during the game.

"It was hurting so bad, I was concerned," he said. "But like I said, that's gonna happen. Sometimes, I mean, if it's like that within a month, you're just going to have to fight through it and finish the game."

The 49ers X-rayed Crabtree's foot — it has twice been surgically repaired, most recently in June — after the game, and the results were negative. The receiver said the foot hadn't bothered him in practice this week, nor did Sunday's soreness have anything to do with his stylish new cleats.

Crabtree was upbeat after the game. Still, he did have one regret — his demonstratively aggrieved reaction to not getting a pass from Smith when he was open at the back of the end zone on a third-and-goal play in the second quarter.

"I shouldn't have did that," Crabtree said. "I get so competitive, man. I had the touchdown. Kind of spazzed out a little bit."

FIRST PLAY WAS A WHOPPER

It was sort of the 293-pound, Tongan equivalent of hitting a home run in your first major league at-bat.

On his very first play from scrimmage, Will Tukuafu grabbed a fumble out of the air after teammate Parys Haralson had drilled Seattle quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. He rumbled 12 yards with the recovery, and four plays later David Akers kicked a field goal to put the 49ers up 6-0.

"You can't really say I did anything special," Tukuafu said. "The ball pops into the air, it's only natural, I think, you want to catch that ball and turn and run with it."

Though he played down his effort, the moment was not lost on Tukuafu, who spent the first 14 weeks of the 2010 season on the 49ers' practice squad, and the final two weeks watching from the sidelines on the inactive list.

"I'm just grateful to be out there. Last year, I was a tryout guy," he said. "I just wanted to make the team this year, contribute any way I can, on special teams. So to come in and give Justin (Smith) a little blow, that's huge for me."

WHAT'S THEIR DEAL?

Nearly as compelling as the season opener was the soap-opera interaction of opposing coaches Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll, who have a little history dating from their college rivalry, when Harbaugh was at Stanford and Carroll at USC.

As cameras rolled and all eyes searched for them after the game, the two coaches met briefly at midfield. Their greeting was neither hostile nor warm.

According to Comcast SportsNet, a photographer close to the scene relayed that Harbaugh said, "See you on the road," and that Carroll replied, "Yep."

Not exactly must-see TV.

EXTRA POINTS

Harbaugh lost his first NFL coaching challenge after a 49ers punt skittered past Seahawks return man Leon Washington. Harbaugh threw his red flag, arguing that the ball touched Washington, but the initial ruling was not overturned.

Two defensive penalties in the third quarter allowed Seattle to get in place for a field goal. DT Ricky Jean Francois got caught clotheslining Seattle RB Marshawn Lynch, and S Madieu Williams was flagged for a blow to the head of a defenseless receiver, TE Anthony McCoy.

Ted Ginn trivia: He became the first NFL player to return a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns on kickoff weekend. He's the 12th man in league history to pull the punt-kickoff daily double. And his 268 total return yards are the 15th most since 1950.

Vernon Davis led the 49ers with five catches for 47 yards.

San Francisco had seven passes defensed by seven different players.

Delanie Walker was a wild man on special teams, with four tackles.