Finding himself out of the shuffle in a crowded backfield with the San Francisco 49ers, former second round pick, LaMichael James has asked for and was granted his release from the team on Monday, according to his agent Jeff Sperbeck.
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James was the subject of trade rumors in the offseason but was not moved despite the team selecting former Ohio State Buckeyes’ running back Carlos Hyde in the second round of the draft and having Marcus Lattimore continuing his long and arduous recovery from a number of knee operations.
@LaMichaelJames appreciates the @49ers for granting him his release request & allowing him to pursue his career elsewhere.
— Jsper (@TheNOVOAgency) September 8, 2014
The season-ending injury to Kendall Hunter did not present James with an opportunity to receive carries in the team’s backfield and a dislocated elbow in the preseason prevented James from making a bigger impression and a statement for more playing time.
James, 24, received two carries in the team’s regular season opener against the Dallas Cowboys for a combined zero yards. He had 12 carries for 59 yards and two catches for 16 yards in 10 regular season games last year. His biggest contributions came on special teams where he averaged 10.9 yards per punt return and 26.8 yards per kick return last year.
At 5-8, 190-pounds, James will never be a featured back in the NFL, but his ability on special teams and ability to be a change-of-pace running back should result in James getting picked up and given another opportunity elsewhere in the very near future.