49ers' Ellington starts fast and disappears just as quickly

Bruce Ellington got off to a fast start in Week 5 - until he was brought down by his own coaches.

A backup wide receiver for the San Francisco 49ers, Ellington appeared on his way to a big night in a last-minute loss to the New York Giants.

On the second play of the game, Ellington turned a receiver screen into a 30-yard game - a much-needed boost for an offense that had scored a combined 28 points in the previous three game.

San Francisco went right back to Ellington on the very next play and he gained nine yards. Three plays, two receptions, 39 yards. A promising start indeed, except that Ellington never played another offensive snap.

"Obviously he's got some explosive attributes. But, no, we went with how we game-planned and Bruce could have been in there," 49ers coach Jim Tomsula told reporters when quizzed about Ellington's role. "When Bruce was in there he did a good job. We liked the other guys and what they were doing in there. So, that's just why we went that way."