SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers waived quarterback Giovanni Carmazzi on Tuesday after reaching an injury settlement.

Carmazzi never played a down for the 49ers, who drafted the former Hofstra star in the third round of the 2000 draft. Team consultant Bill Walsh, then the 49ers' general manager, thought he saw something in Carmazzi that would make him a star.

But Carmazzi, a Sacramento native, spent the 2000 season on the 49ers' practice squad as their fourth quarterback. He then had surgery last August to repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder, which has been slow to heal.

In addition, Carmazzi has several bulging disks in his neck which prevent him from throwing effectively. He isn't expected to be able to play football again for several months.

Carmazzi's departure leaves four quarterbacks on the 49ers' roster: starter Jeff Garcia, Tim Rattay, Cade McNown and rookie Brandon Doman from BYU. San Francisco doesn't expect to keep four quarterbacks, so McNown -- acquired last month from Miami -- and Doman will battle in training camp for the No. 3 spot.