San Francisco 49ers

Implications of 49ers WR Bruce Ellington Season-Ending Injury

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The San Francisco 49ers will be without the services of third-year wide receiver Bruce Ellington. The Niners wideout suffered a hamstring injury and was placed on season-ending injured reserve, per a report. What do the 49ers do now?

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Bruce Ellington can’t stay healthy.

Initially reported by NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport, Ellington will miss all of 2016 with a hamstring injury suffered during the Niners’ third preseason game against the Green Bay Packers.

The #49ers placed receiver/returner Bruce Ellington on season-ending injured reserve, which explains the Jeremy Kerley trade.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 30, 2016

Head coach Chip Kelly certainly saw the 24-year-old Ellington as an integral part of his offense. Just look what Niner Noise’s Rich Madrid wrote about him earlier this offseason.

But the problem is Ellington hasn’t been able to stay healthy over his entire career. He missed three games his rookie season in 2014 and the same amount a year ago.

So it shouldn’t be a surprise the 49ers traded for former Detroit Lions wideout and punt returner Jeremy Kerley shortly after Ellington’s injury.

How else will San Francisco respond?

The wide receiver position has been one of intrigue for the Niners this offseason. San Francisco will also want fellow receiver Quinton Patton to step up and help fill the void. Kerley also could see time in the slot.

As for the rest?

Well, the primarily young cast of Niners receivers remaining on the roster have a slightly better chance now to sneak onto the 53-man group to start the regular season. And yet the production level remains a question mark.

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The “next man up” cliche applies here. And yet the 49ers have even more doubts as to how their offensive production will look this season.

Ellington’s absence hurts. It hurts a lot.

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

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