49ers roster cuts

Aug 8, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Austin Collie (6) catches the ball against the Denver Broncos during the fourth quarter at Candlestick Park. The Denver Broncos defeated the San Francisco 49ers 10-6. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

The San Francisco 49ers released wide receivers Austin Collie, Chad Hall and Lavelle Hawkins on Saturday.

Collie and Hawkins were signed August 2nd to compete for roster spots for the 49ers depleted wide receiver core. Michael Crabtree tore his Achilles’ tendon earlier this year and isn’t expected back until later in the season, and Mario Manningham is still recovering from a knee injury and won’t be back until at least after week 6.

Collie caught 5 passes for 51 yards this preseason, Hall 6 passes for 72 yards, while Hawkins caught 7 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.

The cuts leave the 49ers with Anquan Boldin, Kyle Williams, Jon Baldwin, Quinton Patton, and Marlon Moore as their five wide receivers to open the season.

Long-snapper Brian Jennings was also cut by the team Saturday after spending 13 seasons with the 49ers. Undrafted rookie Kevin McDermott will open the season as the team’s long-snapper and save them $535,000 in total salary in 2013. Jennings had appeared in 208 consecutive games for San Francisco which tied him for the all-time team record before being cut.

Teams must trim their rosters to 53 players today in order to satisfy the NFL’s regular-season roster limit. Released players are eligible to return to the teams that released them and participate on the practice squad if they clear waivers.

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