The San Francisco 49ers already lost one potential starting lineman<\/a> to injury in the last week.<\/p>\n Today they released another, as reported by Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area:<\/em><\/p>\n Veteran O-lineman Jeremy Zuttah has been released. #49ers<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 9, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n Earlier today, the 49ers cut center Jeremy Zuttah<\/a> \u2014 who played for the AFC in the 2016 Pro Bowl<\/a>.\u00a0The 49ers obtained Zuttah\u00a0earlier this year<\/a>\u00a0via a trade with the Baltimore Ravens.<\/p>\n Zuttah was originally drafted<\/a> by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft, before being traded<\/a> to the Ravens in 2014.<\/p>\n Zuttah was expected to win the 49ers\u2019 starting center job, but the team\u2019s\u00a02016 starting center Daniel Kilgore outplayed Zuttah during\u00a0training camp, as was reflected in the 49ers\u2019 first depth chart released to the media on Monday:<\/p>\n #49ers<\/a> release first unofficial depth chart of 2017 before preseason opener 8\/11 @ Kansas City: pic.twitter.com\/kU83kDAlV2<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 TheNinersWire (@TheNinersWire) August 8, 2017<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n In addition to the 49ers\u2019 2017 trade for Zuttah \u2014 as well as Zuttah\u2019s recent accolades \u2014 the roster move is particularly surprising due to Kilgore\u2019s extensive injury history:<\/p>\n One beneficiary of the transaction is free-agent newcomer Tim Barnes. Barnes, who can play both center and guard, appears primed to win the backup center\u00a0job thanks to his recent work with the 49ers\u2019 first team, as reported<\/a> by Chris Biderman of USA Today:<\/em><\/p>\n Zuttah this week was passed over for first-team work by veteran Tim Barnes while presumptive starting center Daniel Kilgore received work at left guard. -Chris Biderman<\/p><\/blockquote>\n When the 49ers cut wide receiver Bruce Ellington last week, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters<\/a> that he released Ellington early in the offseason in order to allow\u00a0the receiver the opportunity to find a new team. Given the fact that Zuttah has trade value, the 49ers likely released him for other reasons.<\/p>\n\n
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