Vikings Preseason Game 1: Randy Moss Won’t Start For San Francisco

Randy Moss will indeed be on the field for the 49ers tonight when they face off against the Vikings in scintillating preseason action, but word has come down that Moss will not be in the starting lineup. Ted Ginn and Michael Crabtree will reportedly get the starts at wide out for Frisco, who totally revamped their receiver corps this offseason and are apparently still working out their depth chart. Free agent acquisition Mario Manningham was also snubbed for a starting nod in favor of the two longer-tenured Niners.

Going by Jim Harbaugh’s statements on the matter, it appears Ginn is being rewarded for a solid training camp by receiving a starting nod over Moss who has himself not been getting a ton of work in practice. In other words, there’s no reason to read anything into this other than that Ginn has worked his butt off and Harbaugh wants to acknowledge it. As far as I know Moss isn’t in Harbaugh’s doghouse or anything. And anyway it’s only a preseason game. Doesn’t mean anything that Randy is no better than #3 on the receiver depth chart as of today. We know that will change by the season opener. Moss is clearly the best receiver on San Francisco even at his advanced age and coming off a one year sabbatical.

Unless of course Randy ISN”T clearly the best receiver on San Francisco. There are reports from camp that Moss has been somewhat shut out by Alex Smith who as we know is not exactly the master of the deep ball, so maybe Randy just hasn’t gotten the best chance to showcase himself there. I’m sure the lack of action won’t peck away at Moss. He’s not the kind of guy who would shut it down entirely if he thought he wasn’t getting the ball thrown to him enough.

(Uh, good luck with that Harbaugh)

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