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WR Crabtree Back In Uniform, Practicing For 49ers

SANTA CLARA (CBS/AP) - Wideout Michael Crabtree was in uniform Tuesday and practicing with the San Francisco 49ers for the first time this preseason.

Crabtree, the 10th overall draft pick in 2009 out of Texas Tech, was activated from the physically unable to perform list Tuesday. He did a short pass-and-catch drill with quarterback Alex Smith before moving to the front field to do agility drills and individual work. A day earlier, Crabtree caught a couple dozen balls from Smith during warmups before general manager Trent Baalke stopped him. The team immediately reported the situation to the NFL. League spokesman Greg Aiello said Monday night the NFL was "looking into it."

"There is nothing to report from our office," Aiello said in an email Tuesday.

The 49ers also had no updates.

The 23-year-old Crabtree had 55 catches for 741 yards and six touchdowns last year.

First-year coach Jim Harbaugh had been hopeful Crabtree would return this week, even if he clearly is still limited in how much of a load he can handle.

Crabtree hurt his foot during workouts led by Smith in June during the lockout. He missed the 2010 preseason with a neck injury a year after a 71-day contract stalemate as a rookie.

He hasn't talked to reporters so far this preseason.

The 23-year-old Crabtree, who has long had the reputation of being a diva, was angrily confronted by tight end Vernon Davis during an early September practice last year and then-coach Mike Singletary had to step between them.

(Copyright 2011 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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