49ers waive receiver Bell amid difficult 2024 season originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
The Ronnie Bell era in San Francisco, it’s over. At least for now.
The 49ers announced Friday afternoon that they had waived the second-year wide receiver, less than two seasons after San Francisco. selected Bell No. 253 overall in the 2023 NFL Draft.
Bell finishes his tenure with the 49ers with eight receptions for 90 yards and three touchdowns in two seasons.
The sophomore has received plenty of criticism this season, most notably for his brutal performance in San Francisco’s Week 2 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, where Bell dropped several passes in critical spots.
One year made all the difference, as Bell first burst onto the scene with a promising preseason for the 49ers during his rookie season. Bell finished the 2023 preseason with the fourth-most receiving yards in the NFL, making 10 receptions for 172 yards in three games.
This initial momentum never managed to translate into consistent production or playing time during the regular season, with Bell’s highlight likely being his first NFL touchdown in a prime-time victory against the New York Giants last season.
Bell leaves the 49ers with just two receptions for 22 yards in 9 games during the 2024 NFL season.
