© Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers stood pat at Tuesday’s 1 p.m. trade deadline, but they made a couple personnel moves.
They waived wide receiver Victor Bolden and cornerback Greg Mabin, the club announced Tuesday afternoon. Their releases could make way for the returns of rookie strong safety Marcell Harris and outside linebacker Dekoda Watson, who have yet to be activated from injured reserve.
Bolden, 23, was signed as an undrafted free agent in early May of last year. He served strictly as a return man in his rookie season, collecting 19 kickoff returns for 396 yards and four punt returns for 23 yards. Bolden recorded his first and only NFL catch in Week 5 of the 2018 season against Arizona, his first game back after serving a four-game suspension for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. He recently made headlines when he sued the nutrition company that allegedly sold him a supplement that included an NFL-banned substance.
Bolden thanked the 49ers organization on Twitter.
Want to give a big thank you to the 49ers organization for giving me the opportunity to live out my dream. I was able to forge some unforgettable bonds that will last a lifetime. Definitely not the end the of road for me we just getting started. ???? pic.twitter.com/wtZyI7BbOK
— Victor Bolden (@vicbolden) October 30, 2018
Mabin, 24, played his way into the cornerback rotation in recent weeks with Ahkello Witherspoon struggling. Mabin appeared in Week 4 and immediately forced a fumble. Two weeks later, however, in San Francisco’s 33-30 loss at Green Bay, he was exposed after entering the game in the fourth quarter. He allowed a 16-yard touchdown pass to tie the game, then, on the following possession, three straight completed passes to fuel Green Bay’s late victory. Mabin’s release will give rookie cornerback Tarvarius Moore greater opportunity to compete for playing time moving forward.