SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) -The San Francisco 49ers ran interference for Michael Crabtree on Wednesday.

Crabtree grabbed the playbook from his locker and took off before San Francisco's afternoon practice. The team wants its rookie wide receiver and top draft pick to get all his football work in before doing any interviews about his highly anticipated NFL debut Sunday at Houston in his home state.

Crabtree, who is set to address the media Thursday, will play a lot against the Texans - and maybe even start.

Coach Mike Singletary and everybody else is eager to see what kind of impact the former Texas Tech star can make after missing all of spring work and training camp. He finally signed a six-year deal with $17 million guaranteed on Oct. 7.