Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers Tight End, Working Out At Wide Receiver; Could Replace Michael Crabtree

With leading receiver Michael Crabtree out with a torn Achilles tendon San Francisco tight end Vernon Davis is embracing his role as quarterback Colin Kaepernick’s new favorite target.

Crabtree isn’t expected back until November at the earliest, but by then he may need to take a backseat to Davis, who during the first several days of training camp has actually been lining up at receiver.

San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh told the reporters he anticipates using Davis at the position early and often this season, as his combination of size, speed and athleticism make him a matchup nightmare.

“I'm willing to step up and do whatever they ask me to do," Davis told ESPN. "They've been having me line up at wide receiver, pretty much all over the place. It's a good thing that I get the opportunity to work with those guys because it not only helps me at the wide receiver position, it also helps me at the tight end position. My feet get quicker, my route-running is better."

The 6-foot-3, 245 pound star says he finds added inspiration studying the likes of Atlanta Falcons star Tony Gonzalez.

"This is a guy who has nothing to prove," said Davis. "He's already deserving of the Hall of Fame, he's broken all the records. This tells me how important it is to him to get a ring. I don't play for the Pro Bowl, I don't play for statistics. Maybe in my younger days I played for statistics. It's all about that ring."

In 2012, Davis' caught 41 passes and had five touchdowns. In the Niners Super Bowl loss to Baltimore he had six catches for 104 yards.

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