National Football League

Ginn gets 'em going with kickoff returns

Published Oct. 12, 2010 10:11 a.m. ET

foxsports

The 49ers came into Sunday's 27-24 loss to the Eagles ranking second-to-last in the NFL in kickoff returns. Ted Ginn Jr. quickly showed that he is healthy enough to give San Francisco reason to hope for more than a touchback.

Ginn took the opening kickoff, cut left and turned it upfield for a 44-yard return against the Eagles.

His left knee finally unsprained, Ginn gave the 49ers the ball at their 49-yard line. The offense used the kick-start to drive 51 yards for the score, with quarterback Alex Smith throwing a 7-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree.

Ginn's return was the team's longest of the season by 14 yards - until the fourth quarter, when he returned a kick 61 yards to set up the 49ers' final scoring drive.

Ginn also had kick returns of 23 and 18 yards in the first half, showing the team's blocking has more work to do.

He also played seven snaps in three-receiver sets by halftime. The idea is for the speedy Ginn to stretch the field, and he tried on a go route early in the second quarter.

Only Smith underthrew a 44-yard pass, allowing third-string cornerback Dimitri Patterson to intercept the ball at the Eagles' 3.

Ginn did have a 17-yard catch on a play-action call on 3rd-and-1 in the second quarter, running a deep post before slamming the brakes and turning around for his first catch since a Week 1 knee injury.

About time: Outside linebacker Parys Haralson got his third sack in two games. More importantly, he forced a Kevin Kolb fumble that Manny Lawson re- covered at the Eagles' 35 with 15 seconds left in the first half.

With that, the 49ers became the last team to recover a fumble this season.

Old pals: Former Eagles running back Brian Westbrook got to face his former team after all.

After being in for four snaps in the first four games, Westbrook played four snaps in the first three quarters Sunday. He had one carry for 6 yards.

Big mismatch: Eagles left tackle Jason Peters left the game late in the first quarter with a knee injury. Advantage, Justin Smith.

The 49ers' defensive end instantly abused backup lineman King Dunlap for his first two sacks of the season, both in the second quarter.

Travis LaBoy beat Dunlap to give him his third sack of the season.

Briefly: Rookie right tackle Anthony Davis had two false starts, giving the first-round draft pick four jumps this season. ... Crabtree caught his first touchdown pass of the season and the third of his career.