Stevie Johnson Released by 49ers: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

Stevie Johnson has been released by the San Francisco 49ers, the team confirmed on Thursday.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com reported on Wednesday that the 49ers released Johnson, though according to Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group, general manager Trent Baalke denied the team had officially parted with him. The news is now official, however.

Despite the news of his release, ProFootballTalk on Twitter reported that there's still a chance Johnson returns to San Francisco.

From 2010-12, there weren’t many wide receivers better in the NFL than Johnson; however, he struggled to make much of an impact for the 49ers in 2014. 

Johnson only tallied 435 receiving yards on 35 catches last season, although he did find the end zone on three occasions. He never really found his role on a team that relied on running backs Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde, as well as quarterback Colin Kaepernick, in the rushing game, and he could look to find a more pass-oriented team should he depart from the 49ers. 

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From San Francisco's perspective, releasing Johnson is likely a cap-related decision primarily, as Dianna Marie Russini of NBC4 in Washington, D.C., pointed out:

Whichever team lands Johnson certainly hopes he can tap into the skill that helped him top 1,000 receiving yards in three straight seasons in Buffalo.