49ers rookie Morgan regaining energy after infection

Legacy · Oct 2, 2008

It's fair to say Josh Morgan's rookie season did not get off to the most promising of starts. The wide receiver taken in the sixth round from Virginia Tech picked up a staph infection in the preseason and lost weight and energy as a result.

He's starting to rebound now, and his energy is back, although he's a little lighter than his listed 219 pounds.

"It was a minor setback for a major comeback," is how Morgan described being laid low by a potentially serious infection medically known as MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). "I didn't know what was going on. It was my first illness, period. It was scary. Sometimes in life you have to go through things. I'm looking forward to coming back strong."

Morgan has played in San Francisco's first four games, getting snaps when the 49ers use three or four receivers, and has three receptions for 36 yards.

"It wasn't a concern because it wasn't anything serious," general manager Scot McCloughan said of the infection. "It was something we had to take care of. For a young guy in a system like (Mike) Martz's, you need to be out here running routes and he couldn't do it. Now he's getting back to speed. Knock on wood, he'll stay healthy the rest of the year. We're excited about him."

The 6-foot Morgan is a thick-bodied receiver with good athletic ability and decent speed. His promising preseason was stymied when the infection took hold. He said he picked up the bacteria from the infield dirt at the Oakland Coliseum on Aug. 8.

"My strength is always there," the soft-spoken, gap-toothed rookie said. "It was my energy level that was messed up because I was sick. My energy level is back to where it should be. It's good."

Morgan said antibiotics helped him get over the staph infection, adding, "There's nothing you can do to prevent it. It's bacteria that's going to get you. You have to focus on taking care of yourself and making sure your surroundings are clean."

Just as young receivers in Jerry Rice's day could look to him as the perfect role model, Morgan has an exemplar in the locker next to his in Santa Clara. Adjacent to "Morgan 84" is "Bruce 88." It's not by accident that the 49ers positioned their rookie next to one of the best receivers in history.

For as long as he remains a 49er, Isaac Bruce will show Morgan what a professional looks like. In an act of deference, Morgan moved away from his locker Wednesday to finish an interview when Bruce arrived at his.

"You see his locker next to mine," Morgan said. "Every day, I ask him questions. And Bryant Johnson, he's been in the league for six years. Arnaz (Battle), five. I try to learn from all of them. It's a great position to be in. You learn a lot. You're a sponge trying to soak up all the knowledge you can."

Morgan was in the spring of his senior year at Virginia Tech when on April 16, 2007, a gunman shot and killed 33 people on campus before turning the gun on himself. Morgan was in a building next to the one where the shooting took place.

"I heard the first couple of shots," he said earlier. "It was a devastating time. It was kind of surreal. You didn't expect anything like that to happen. It was a normal day."

With a hitch to the start of his NFL career, Morgan is trying to get back to a place called normal.
Click to expand...

Source

Vintage · Oct 2, 2008

Staph infection is brutal.

Look at LeCharles Bentley...

Good to see his recovery seems to be going better than Bentley's.

Any chance he gets some playing time later in the season? What does San Frans WRs look like?

Legacy · Oct 2, 2008

Issac Bruce has been impressive lately despite his quiet first game. IMO, he is the first option for sure right now. I'd like to see what Morgan can do now that he is healthy.

Vintage · Oct 2, 2008

How has Bryant Johnson done?

Legacy · Oct 2, 2008

He's got a TD and hit the 10 catch mark last week. I'd rather try out Morgan right now over him.

JE · Oct 2, 2008

Whatever happened to Jason Hill? I heard the Niners liked him when they drafted him last year. Where's he been?

Log in or Sign up

49ers rookie Morgan regaining energy after infection

Legacy Beast

Vintage Defeating Communism...

Legacy Beast

Vintage Defeating Communism...

Legacy Beast

JE Suspended

Share This Page

Log in or Sign up

49ers rookie Morgan regaining energy after infection

Legacy Beast

Vintage Defeating Communism...

Legacy Beast

Vintage Defeating Communism...

Legacy Beast

JE Suspended

Share This Page

Useful Searches