Jim Harbaugh has said he is "thankful" that Michael Crabtree was able to return from injury this season.

The San Francisco 49ers wide receiver tore his Achilles during the team's minicamp last May, but was able to return to action with the team in December.

The head coach told reporters: "[I'm] thankful that he went through the grueling rehab, went through the toughness, and thankful that he was good, and thought that there would be a gap from where he was this year as to [where he was] before he got hurt.

"Thinking that maybe there were some balls he wouldn't get to, maybe some catches he wouldn't make, some tackles he wouldn't break, some separation that he wouldn't gain after coming back from a torn Achilles tendon. But, it was minor.

"You couldn't really even tell the difference the first couple weeks, and then to where it is now. It's as good or better. And what kind of human being is able to do that. It's so rare. I can't even compare it to anything else that I've ever seen."

Crabtree had 284 receiving yards in the final five games of the regular season, and 151 yards in the playoffs.