Ashley Lelie thought his resume was enough to keep him on the roster. Instead, his injury report was enough to knock him off.

The 49ers waived the veteran receiver Saturday as part of their final 21 roster cuts. Other notable omissions included fullback Moran Norris, once a favorite blocker of running back Frank Gore, as well as seventh-round draft pick Larry Grant and running back Thomas Clayton.

Lelie's 17.2-yards-per-catch average is the highest among active NFL receivers, but a calf injury wiped out most of his training camp. He played just once in four exhibitions, going without a catch in Friday night's finale against San Diego.

"When it gets right down to it, it really became just a durability issue," Coach Mike Nolan said shortly after whittling the roster to the 53-player limit.

Despite the injury, Lelie had an outside shot to make the team as a sixth receiver. But, in a mild surprise, the 49ers kept only five: Isaac Bruce, Bryant Johnson, Arnaz Battle, Jason Hill and Josh Morgan. The team probably will add two more receivers to the practice squad announced today.

Norris, meanwhile, lost out on a spot to the more versatile Zak Keasey. Just two years earlier, Norris was so vital to Gore's big rushing totals that Gore paid for the bruising fullback to join him in Hawaii during the Pro Bowl. Now, he's out of a job.

"I believe that Moran will do well wherever he goes," Nolan said. "I think somebody who is looking for a fullback will find a very good player in Moran. That was a difficult cut today."

Keasey, a former linebacker at Princeton, made the team in part because of his special-teams prowess. He was among the 49ers' leaders in return blocks during the exhibition season.

Special-teams abilities also helped Michael Robinson fend off Clayton for the last of the four running back spots. Clayton gained 186 yards in 42 carries, but he lacked Robinson's all-around game. Robinson, Nolan said, has better hands out of the backfield, runs better routes and is considered a leader in the locker room. "He is a jack of all trades at this point. Probably a master of none," the coach said. "When you take the total package of Michael Robinson, he is pretty valuable to your football team."

Grant, the 214th overall choice out of Ohio State, was the only draft pick to fail to make the team. The 49ers thought he had the potential to someday line up next to Patrick Willis, but "he wasn't pushing for the job as we may have hoped," Nolan said.

—The other veterans cut were: defensive tackle Atiyyah Ellison, linebacker Dennis Haley, defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey, tackle Alan Reuber and tackle Joe Toledo. The other first-year players cut were: cornerback Markus Curry, defensive tackle Walter Curry, receiver Robert Ortiz, tackle Chris Patrick, receiver Jerard Rabb, punter/kicker Ricky Schmitt and receiver Dominique Zeigler. The other rookies cut were receiver Cam Colvin, guard Brian de la Puente, tight end J.J. Finley, defensive end Louis Holmes and safety D.J. Parker.

—The 49ers kept 11 defensive backs. That's one or two more than usual. "We have some decent defensive backs, and I didn't want to put them out there in the street to someone else's benefit," Nolan said. The team won't add any more to the practice squad.

—Nolan said he expects "every member of our football team" to practice on Wednesday. That includes linebacker Parys Haralson (shoulder) and nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin (knee), who were injured Friday.

—The 49ers know who will be taking the snaps for Arizona in the season opener: Kurt Warner, who got the nod over Matt Leinart for his consistency and willingness to adjust to new coach Ken Whisenhunt's style.