SANTA CLARA (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers signed wide receivers Austin Collie and Lavelle Hawkins to one-year deals Friday after both veteran free agents worked out for the team earlier in the day.

The Sacramento Bee’s Prep Player of the Decade (2000-2009), Collie played at Oak Ridge High of El Dorado Hills, while Lavelle Hawkins was an All-American out of Stockton’s Edison.

The 49ers made the moves to help bolster a receiver unit that has been decimated by injuries. San Francisco began training camp last week without top wideout Michael Crabtree — out for at least half the season after tearing his Achilles tendon in May — and three other receivers have missed time this week.

Collie played the past four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, but appeared in only one game last year due to injury. He had 173 receptions during his first three seasons with the Colts.

Hawkins was released by New England on Wednesday after playing five seasons with the Tennessee Titans. Hawkins had 47 receptions for the Titans in 2011 and 71 overall with Tennessee.

Mario Manningham, who started 10 games at wide receiver for the 49ers last season, has yet to practice this summer while he continues to rehabilitate a knee injury suffered in a Dec. 23 game. Kyle Williams — who like Manningham tore knee ligaments last season — and receivers A.J. Jenkins and Kassim Osgood each have missed practices this week because of apparent hamstring injuries.

To make room on their roster for the two newcomers, the 49ers waived rookie center Sherman Carter and rookie punter Colton Schmidt.



Nigel Malone update

The Denver Broncos announced the acquisition of Sierra High product Nigel Malone on Thursday. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback was assigned to Denver via waivers from Pittsburgh.

A standout at San Francisco City College and Kansas State, is now with his third NFL team since being signed as an undrafted free agent last spring. He was then signed by the Steelers on June 5and waived this past Tuesday.



— Bulletin staff contributed to this report