Wide receiver Stevie Johnson, whom the 49ers released last week in a cost-cutting move, is expected to decide Tuesday morning between signing with San Diego or New England, a league source told CSNBayArea.com.
Johnson has ruled out a return to the 49ers, according to the source. The 49ers and Johnson could not work out a reduction of his scheduled $6.025 million salary last week, which led to his release on the same day the 49ers signed wide receiver Torrey Smith.
The 49ers and Smith, formerly of the Baltimore Ravens, struck an agreement on a five-year, $40 million contract – the richest free agent contract the organization has ever awarded to an offensive player.
The 49ers acquired Johnson last offseason in a trade with the Buffalo Bills for a fourth-round draft pick. But the team kept him around for just one season as the No. 3 receiver behind Anquan Boldin and Michael Crabtree.
Johnson, a San Francisco native, caught 35 passes for 435 yards and three touchdowns in his one season with the 49ers after recording 1,000-yard seasons in three of his final four seasons with Buffalo.
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