Jarryd Hayne might have his punt return job back soon.
San Francisco 49ers' special teams co-ordinator Thomas McGaughey said the man who took over after Hayne was cut, Bruce Ellington, has been put on notice he is at risk of being fired.
Ellington has dropped balls in the past two games and McGaughey warned if he muffs another the 49ers will look for a new returner.
"You put the ball on the ground again, yeah, that's just a reality of what we do," McGaughey told reporters on Wednesday.
Hayne, the Australian former rugby league star, was cut and then placed on the 49ers' practice squad a month ago after dropping three punts in the six regular season games he played.
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Ellington will be under pressure when the 49ers leave the warmth of the US west coast and play the Chicago Bears in expected windy and cold conditions at Chicago's Soldier Field on Sunday.
McGaughey pointed to the way the New England Patriots were quick to fire their punt returner Chris Harper after he dropped a ball on Sunday that led to the team's first loss of the season.
"You look at the kid in New England last week, he ain't got a job," McGaughey said.
"If Bruce was standing right here next to me I'd say the same thing.
"It's no different.
"You have to take care of the ball.
"Everybody has a job.
"Go do your job."
The special teams co-ordinator was highly-critical of the way Ellington has attempted to catch balls.
"That's not what we coach," he said.
"That's not what we teach him to do.
"We've had that discussion and it's going to be corrected."
