Is 49ers' Wide Receiver Bruce Ellington Headed Out?

San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver Bruce Ellington has had a frustrating career in just two seasons with the team. He may see his time as a 49er come to an end sooner than expected.

Since being drafted in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL draft, San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver Bruce Ellington has had a rocky start to his career. He has seen his playing time fluctuate and his inability to remain healthy clouds his ability on the field.

The 49ers enter free agency with question marks throughout their roster and wide receiver is, perhaps, one of the least-settled positions on the team. As the team continues to evaluate players throughout the draft process and free agency, they’ll also spend a considerable amount of time evaluating players that are currently on the roster.

While fans would love to see their favorite players return, there’s a chance that the team might have other plans. The 49ers hold the seventh pick in the draft and could use it to target Ole Miss wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. Or, they could use their exorbitant amount of cap space–roughly $55 million, per OverTheCap.com–to lure some outsiders to Santa Clara.

Regardless of what the team does, there is an increasingly strong chance that Bruce Ellington may not be on the 49ers’ 53-man roster when the 2016 regular season begins.

Let’s begin looking at how Ellington’s time with the 49ers might be coming to a close sooner than many expected.

Source: #49ers will stay away from players from Uof South Carolina in #NFLDraft Team has been "hit hard" by recent selections from school.
— Jerod Brown (@JerodBrown_) February 15, 2016

That might not seem entirely shocking. Obviously, with limited picks in each draft, there are plenty of schools that the 49ers simply don’t draft players from. But to completely check a school off of the list raises red flags about the players currently on the 49ers roster that might have prompted the response.

The 49ers have had their fair share of storylines with the players from South Carolina. Running back Marcus Lattimore retired before ever making an impact with the team. Nobody faults Lattimore for suffering from injuries and retiring to pursue a higher calling but, regardless of the reasons, his time as a 49er didn’t pan out.

Former 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver also played at South Carolina. He was impressive while in San Francisco and recorded four interceptions while starting 14 games in his final year with the team. He wasn’t a major contributor or distraction early in his career.

Until the week of Super Bowl 47 when he discussed his homophobic views on gay players in locker rooms. He then followed that with an arrest for a hit-and-run incident. After Culliver’s contract expired, the 49ers didn’t make much of an attempt to re-sign him and he landed in Washington.

Recently-drafted 49ers from the University of South Carolina are quarterback Dylan Thompson, tight end Rory “Busta” Anderson, running back Mike Davis and Ellington.

The first three on the list are relatively new to the NFL. And, while none of the men particularly shined as rookies, it’s hard to predict their future with the team.

Anderson enters his second season and showed some promise in the 2015 preseason. There’s a good chance he’ll make the active roster in head coach Chip Kelly’s system. Last year, as head coach of the Eagles, Kelly regularly had four tight ends on the active roster. Busta may be a backup but he should see playing time.

Thompson, who joined the team as an undrafted free agent, is likely nothing more than a guy that the team grabbed for some camp competition and to see what might be. He didn’t see the field during the regular season and he wasn’t incredibly impressive during the preseason as a rookie. It’s hard to fault Thompson or include him in the team’s sentiments toward South Carolina.

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Davis dealt with injuries as a rookie but failed to produce in limited playing time when healthy. 35 carries for 58 yards isn’t pretty. Davis will need an impressive preseason to make the active roster but he isn’t the Gamecock player that is most on the roster bubble.

That distinction belongs to Ellington. The 49er that could be directly tied to the team’s aversion to South Carolina is the much-maligned receiver.

For many reasons, Ellington has failed to produce consistently as a 49er. Certainly, former offensive coordinator Geep Chryst didn’t do Ellington any favors in his play-calling that essentially removed Ellington for entire games, despite Ellington providing a spark. But what if that was intentional and an early indication of the front office’s disappointment?

Oct 11, 2015; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington (10) carries the ball in the first quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports /

Now, as the 49ers shuffle in a new offensive philosophy, Ellington could find himself battling for a roster spot. One that he may not necessarily win. The Philadelphia Eagles carried six wide receivers on their roster. Let’s assume the 49ers do the same–which may be high considering they usually only have offensive expectations for the top five.

Two of those spots will go to Torrey Smith and DeAndre Smelter. If free-agent receiver Anquan Boldin re-signs with the team, those three will likely be the top receivers in Kelly’s offense.

The 49ers also have Canadian Football League star Eric Rogers prepared to battle for a roster spot. At 6’4” and 215 pounds he is the ideal size for some of the things that Kelly likes to do. He could easily impress in camp and earn a roster spot.

Many mock drafts have the 49ers selecting a wide receiver sometime in the first three rounds of the draft. If so, it’s reasonable to expect that the drafted receiver will have an opportunity to make the 53-man roster.

So, that leaves one roster spot for three or four solid receivers to compete for. Ellington will be forced to battle receivers Quinton Patton, DeAndrew White and Dres Anderson for what is likely the last spot on the roster. Whoever earns that spot may not even make the active roster each Sunday.

Patton has experience at the professional level and, although his emotions often overshadow his play, he could make the most of his last chance with the team. White, whom the team signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015, was impressive throughout training camp and the preseason. With a year under his belt, he might be ready for the active roster.

Anderson was placed on season-ending injured-reserve as he battled back from a knee injury suffered in college. He practiced throughout the preseason but essentially red-shirted last year as a rookie. Now, fully healthy, he’ll compete for a roster spot at receiver.

There are also plenty of other options that the 49ers might be interested grabbing in free agency.

I'd spend money on @Mo_12_Sanu in free agency if I'm the @49ers. Great fit in Chip's offense.
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) February 16, 2016

Needless to say, Ellington faces competition and he might have already had his chance to prove his value to the team. In his two seasons with the team he has 19 receptions for 215 yards. As we discussed, that might not entirely be his fault, but he isn’t lighting it up when he is on the field.

In addition to his production on the field, he’s had a hard time even seeing it. Former head coach Jim Tomsula was forced to address Ellington about his habits and preparation. That’s not exactly an encouraging sign. Jennifer Chan noted the response in an article for Ninersnation.com back in September. Ellington admitted that his preparation lacked the commitment of a professional athlete:

"It will keep me off the injury list, just getting in the ice tub, refreshing your body. That’s a big part of playing football. Coming in I thought I was young and thought I don’t need to stretch and I could just go out there and run but I realize that I can’t. I have to take care of my body. I feel good. I don’t think I’m 100% yet but it’s getting there."

Ellington has shown impressive quickness and elusiveness as a receiver but his inability to stay healthy and productive is surely wearing on the team.

Just as Ellington is beginning to emerge as a potential third receiver for the team, it seems he finds himself hampered by another injury.

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With the team already scratching South Carolina draftees off of their lists, it’s important to wonder why they might be feeling so disappointed by the production of the players they’ve had. There is no other fair and honest method of evaluation than assessing who on the team has failed to produce. South Carolina players seem to be bringing more baggage and failed expectations along with them when drafted.

For 49ers’ receiver Bruce Ellington, those failed expectations may be enough to see his time with the 49ers end this summer.

Next: 5 Risky Picks the 49ers Should Avoid

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference.com and ESPN Statistics unless otherwise indicated.

San Francisco 49ers: Will Bruce Ellington Make the Team in 2016?

By Jerod Brown | Feb 16, 2016

San Francisco 49ers’ wide receiver Bruce Ellington has had a frustrating career in just two seasons with the team. He may see his time as a 49er come to an end sooner than expected.

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