Programming note: For all the day’s sports news, tune in to SportsNet Central tonight and every night at 6, 10:30 p.m. and midnight on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area
Wide receiver Mario Manningham, who appeared in just six games last season due to a knee injury he sustained in the 2012 season, reportedly signed a one-year contract Tuesday with the New York Giants.
Manningham returns to the Giants after spending two seasons with the 49ers. Manningham was the 49ers’ second-leading wide receiver in 2012 with 42 catches for 449 yards and one touchdown before sustaining ligament tears in his left knee late in the season against the Seattle Seahawks.
He never fully recovered from the injury and caught just nine passes for 85 yards last season. He opened the season on physically unable to perform. The 49ers placed Manningham on injured reserve on Dec. 27.
[MAIOCCO: Patton's competition for No. 3 likely to come from rookie]
Manningham spent his first four NFL seasons with the Giants and played a major role in the Giants' march to Super Bowl XLVI. He caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass in the NFC Championship game victory over the 49ers in January 2012. Two weeks later, he had a big play on the Giants’ Super Bowl-winning drive against the New England Patriots.
Manningham becomes the fourth 49ers free agent to sign with another team. Safety Donte Whitner (Cleveland), cornerback Tarell Brown (Oakland) and running back Anthony Dixon (Buffalo) are the others.
