Report: 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore may retire
San Francisco 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore may retire after being unable to come back from a severe knee injury suffered in college, reports ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan.
Lattimore's agent, Michael Perrett, told NFL.com's Ian Rapoport that "no decision has been made on Marcus' future," and that Lattimore is weighing his options. According to Rapoport, Lattimore will meet with team doctors on Monday to discuss soreness in his knee.
Lattimore was injured during his junior season at South Carolina, tearing three major ligaments in his right knee in a game against Tennessee on Oct. 27, 2012.
The 49ers selected him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft, after he ran for 2,677 yards and 38 touchdowns in his three seasons at the school. Lattimore also suffered a knee injury in his sophomore season.
He spent all of his rookie season on the non-football injury list.
Lattimore's future in the NFL was put in doubt this weekend when he was not seen on the sidelines during the 49ers 13-10 loss to the St. Louis Rams. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said the team would likely make an announcement on Lattimore’s status.
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Lattimore was expected to contribute this season with the 49ers' stable of running backs behind starter Frank Gore and rookie Carlos Hyde.
49ers rookie wide receiver Bruce Ellington, who was a teammate of Lattimore’s at South Carolina, said he did not know anything about Lattimore's situation.
"I have no clue," Ellington told CSN Bay Area. "Last time I talked to him was the other day."
The 49ers (4-4) have lost two straight games and sit three games back of NFC West division leader Arizona. They take on the New Orleans Saints (4-4) on Sunday.
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