UPDATE: 49ers' Lattimore Announces Retirement
UPDATE:
Running back Marcus Lattimore never played an NFL snap because of two serious knee injuries while he was in college, and he has decided his knees might not hold up through the rigors of a 16-game season.
Lattimore informed the San Francisco 49ers he will retire, two years after blowing out his right knee at South Carolina and working tirelessly to try to come back.
"After prayer and careful consideration, I have decided it's time to end my professional football career," Lattimore said in a statement released by the team. "I have given my heart and soul to the game that I love, and it's time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life and help others.
"I have given every ounce of my energy toward making a full recovery from my knee injury, and I have made a lot of progress. Unfortunately, getting my knee fully back to the level the NFL demands has proven to be insurmountable.
"I am grateful for the entire 49ers organization. Their decision to draft me was the realization of a lifelong dream to be an NFL player, and I cannot thank them enough for believing in me and for doing everything in their power to assist in my recovery. I will always be a 49er!"
The team made the announcement Wednesday, two days after coach Jim Harbaugh said Lattimore was weighing his football future. Meanwhile, South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier said he told Lattimore there will be a position for him at his former university.
Harbaugh said he and Lattimore spoke last week and during the weekend.
"He gave it his best shot," Harbaugh said. "There's a trusting, lasting friendship there."
The 23-year-old Lattimore, San Francisco's 2013 fourth-round draft pick, practiced for the first time last Wednesday and Thursday before sitting out Friday. He was eligible to return after Week 6, but Harbaugh said Lattimore had doubts his knees would allow him to play at the highest level long term.
"I talked to him. He made his mind up," running back Frank Gore said. "It's tough, man."
Lattimore spent his rookie season last year on injured reserve after tearing major ligaments in both knees during college playing for the Gamecocks. The serious knee injuries derailed his 2011 and `12 seasons before the Niners took a chance on him in the draft anyway.
"I was looking forward to seeing him on the field, seeing what he could do," quarterback Colin Kaepernick said.
He underwent surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in 2011, then injured the right knee in October 2012.
"It's a tough business," veteran place kicker Phil Dawson said. "We're all walking a fine line here. You spend so much time training and dreaming and working and one play can change the course of your entire career. Marcus is a great guy. He's got a lot going for him. I think he'll be successful in whatever he decides to do, but it makes those of us who are still playing grateful for the opportunities we have each and every day."
ORIGINAL STORY:
San Francisco 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore is weighing his football future less than a week after returning to the practice field following a two-year struggle with a devastating knee injury from college.
Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that Lattimore is going to talk to his family and the team should know more in the coming days.
"He's weighing his options, we'll have an announcement about that," Harbaugh said.
Lattimore, San Francisco's 2013 fourth-round draft pick, practiced last Wednesday and Thursday but not Friday. He was eligible to return after Week 6.
He spent his rookie season last year on injured reserve after tearing major ligaments in both knees during college at South Carolina. The serious knee injuries derailed his 2011 and `12 seasons before the Niners took a chance on him in the draft anyway. He underwent surgery for a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in 2011.
The 23-year-old Lattimore wasn't around for Sunday's 13-10 loss to St. Louis. Last week, he expressed how thankful he was to finally get on the field, calling it "a big moment," while adding, "it's a blessing, that's what it is."
Lattimore's agent, Michael Perrett, posted on Twitter on Monday that "no decision has been made on (at)Marcus Lattimore's future." Messages left for Perrett and Lattimore weren't immediately returned.
Lattimore hurt his right knee just before halftime of a 38-35 win by South Carolina against Tennessee in 2012, the second straight season his year was ended by a serious knee injury. Tennessee players came out as a group while Lattimore was being carted off that afternoon to wish him well and show support.
Harbaugh declined Monday to share anything from his discussions with Lattimore or say how difficult it would be to see Lattimore's career end after such a rigorous commitment to his rehab.
Last Wednesday started the team's 21-day window to determine whether to activate him to the 53-man roster or place him on season-ending injured reserve.
In interesting timing, San Francisco announced it had re-signed running back Kendall Hunter to a one-year contract extension through the 2015 season. He is out for the season after tearing his right ACL in training camp.
The 49ers coach was still trying to regroup from an ugly home loss to the Rams in which quarterback Colin Kaepernick was sacked eight times and fumbled at the goal line with 2 seconds remaining while trying to score the go-ahead touchdown.
Harbaugh's play-calling came into question, while running back Frank Gore defended offensive coordinator Greg Roman. Harbaugh reiterated Monday his faith in Roman.
"We're not going to be concerned what other people think or point out," Harbaugh said. "What we're going to do, we're going to take action to improve and get on to the next ballgame. ... We're going to address the areas we need improvement and attack it."
He declined to point out certain players' struggles, preferring to meet with his entire team Tuesday to discuss what went wrong and how to move forward.
While Kaepernick was working with a new center, rookie Marcus Martin making his NFL debut, Harbaugh said the two didn't have issues with their timing on snaps during practice last week.
"For the most part it was good," he said. "As you watch the tape you see where we all have fingerprints on this."
And he had already watched the film a few times as of lunchtime Monday.
San Francisco (4-4) knows it has work to do to make another postseason run. The Niners have reached three straight NFC championship games, but find themselves in third place in the tough NFC West - with two games against Seattle and one with first-place Arizona still remaining.
There are two tough road trips the next two weeks, beginning at New Orleans this Sunday then a trip to New York.
"The ship didn't sink, we're still in it," tight end Vernon Davis said.
Notes: Harbaugh said LB Dan Skuta (ankle) and WR Brandon Lloyd (hamstring) were being examined further. ... Of Tramaine Brock, who missed Sunday's game with turf toe after playing against the Broncos on Oct. 19, Harbaugh would only say, "we'll continue to assess that."
