The San Francisco 49ers waived Bruce Ellington earlier this week, and they have now replaced him on the roster. The team signed linebacker Jayson DiManche to a one-year deal.
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because he is on his second stint with the team this offseason. The 49ers originally signed him as a free agent on April 7. They released him on May 2 as part of their moves to clear space for the undrafted free agent signings.
DiManche entered the NFL in 2013, when he signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent. In two seasons with the Bengals (2013-14), he appeared in 28 games (one start) and registered 13 tackles and one pass defensed in addition to 15 tackles on special teams. He also appeared in one postseason contest with Cincinnati.
Following his release from the Bengals on September 11, 2015, he spent time with the Kansas City Chiefs before appearing in one game with the Cleveland Browns. He was released from the Browns on December 31, 2015, and signed to the Bengals practice squad on January 5, 2016, where he spent the remainder of the season. After spending training camp with the Bengals in 2016, he was released from the team on August 29, 2016. The following day he signed with the Detroit Lions and was released on September 3, 2016.