Update: The 49ers officially announced the release of Ellington at 10:45 a.m. PT. No corresponding roster move was announced by the team, leaving one available spot on the 90-man roster.
Ellington spent the 2016 season on injured reserve following a torn hamstring suffered in a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.
Ellington was drafted out of South Carolina by the 49ers in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Used primarily as a returner on special teams, where he has 1,604 return yards, he only has 19 receptions for 215 yards and two touchdowns receiving throughout his two active seasons in the league.
The 49ers have a lot of competition at wide receiver. Pierre Garçon and Marquise Goodwin look to be starters on the outside while Jeremy Kerley looks like a strong candidate for the slot receiver role. Behind them are a lot of young players, including fifth-round draft pick Trent Taylor, competing for the remaining spots, which likely made Ellington expendable.
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