Tight end Delanie Walker today said that coaches told him earlier in the year that they might have to use him as a wide receiver if their numbers dwindled at the position. Those numbers are low now, one day after Joshua Morgan, the team's leading wide receiver, fractured his ankle. The 49ers also are waiting on receiver Braylon Edwards to return from knee surgery.
"They talked about it earlier, way earlier, that if something happened, I could be doing that," Walker said. "But, you know, we've got some receivers that can step up. Kyle (Williams) can step up and do his job well. So I think we might run a lot of two tight (tight ends), three tights, too, just to help that out."
Against the Buccaneers, Walker and fellow tight end Vernon Davis were often on the field together. Third tight end Justin Peelle also saw the most playing of the season. At times, all three lined up next to one another on the right side of the 49ers' offensive line.
Walker is the only one in that group who played wide receiver in college. He was prolific at Central Missouri, leaving the school with 113 receptions for 1,347 yards in two seasons there. The 49ers converted Walker to tight end after drafting him in the sixth round in 2006.
The 49ers currently have three healthy wide receivers: Michael Crabtree, Ted Ginn and Kyle Williams. Edwards, meanwhile, is expected back on Oct. 30, one week after the 49ers' bye.
-- Matt Barrows
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