Ex-49er Ted Ginn Jr. reportedly signs with Panthers

Former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver/returner Ted Ginn Jr. will sign a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.

Ginn's visit and tryout with the Panthers this week resulted in a contract offer and excited coach Ron Rivera.

“Ted came in and did a nice job. I know our guys really spoke highly of his visit,” Rivera said Wednesday at the NFC coaches breakfast at the league meetings.

“The interesting thing about Ted is he gives us some depth at wide receiver who can challenge for playing time opportunity. But also he's got special teams value, which is big.”

Ginn, 27, has six touchdown returns – three on punt returns and three on kickoffs -- in his six NFL seasons.

“He's an explosive guy coming off the line of scrimmage, too,” Rivera said. “So there's some huge pluses for us as far as hoping to be able to bring a guy like that into the fold.”

Ginn, the ninth overall pick by Miami in the 2007 NFL Draft, was primarily used as a returner by the 49ers in 2012, leading to his desire to leave San Francisco for another opportunity in free agency. His career receiving stats include 161 catches for 2,048 yards and six touchdowns.

Ginn reportedly also considered an offer from the Cincinnati Bengals.