SANTA CLARA -– Bruce Ellington was on the sideline for most of training camp as the battle for the No. 3 wide receiver and return specialist marched forward without him.
Ellington is finally healthy enough to play, and he showed more in the first minute of the 49ers’ final exhibition game than most of the other receivers showed all summer.
Ellington caught a short slant from undrafted rookie quarterback Dylan Thompson in stride, angled across the field and sprinted through the San Diego Chargers’ defense for a 70-yard touchdown.
The sparse crowd saw Ellington and Jarryd Hayne, two players who are competing for the job as the 49ers’ return specialist, show their attributes and make their cases for regular-season roles.