HOUSTON -- Linebacker Nick Bellore, whom the 49ers envision as a key contributor on special teams, is expected to be activated in the middle of next week from the non-football illness list, a source told CSNBayArea.com.
Bellore’s specific illness is not known, but the free-agent pickup is expected to be 100-percent healthy very soon to begin competing for his spot on the 49ers’ 53-man roster.
The 49ers signed Bellore, who spent his first four NFL seasons with the New York Jets, to a reported two-year, $1.69 million contract in the offseason. Bellore is a favorite of new 49ers special-teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey, who held the same position with the Jets last season.
Bellore was one of 10 players coach Jim Tomsula announced this week would not make the trip to Houston for the 49ers’ exhibition opener Saturday evening against the Texans.
Running back Kendall Hunter, wide receivers Bruce Ellington, Dres Anderson and DeAndre Smelter, center Daniel Kilgore, linebackers Aaron Lynch, Michael Wilhoite and Philip Wheeler, and defensive back Jimmie Ward were also going to remain in Santa Clara to continue to rehab.
