BALTIMORE — As 49ers rookie wide receiver Bruce Ellington prepared to field the opening kickoff in his NFL debut Thursday night, he took a moment to scan 71,000-seat M&T Bank Stadium, consider his journey from Moncks Corner, S.C. to the pinnacle of pro football and … endure some insults.

Yes, Ellington’s Hallmark moment was interrupted by heckling.

“I was just in the end zone looking like, ‘Man, I’m in the NFL, man,” Ellington said. “I was taking it all in, looking around the whole stadium and then people were screaming ‘Boo! Boo! Hey, No. 3, you’re sorry.”

Actually, Ellington offered evidence he could be fairly good in the 49ers’ 23-3 loss to the Ravens. The fourth-round pick averaged 31.0 yards on two kickoff returns and had three catches for a team-high 35 yards. A blemish: He muffed a punt, but picked it up at his feet and returned it 21 yards. The gain, however, was wiped out by a holding penalty.

Jim Harbaugh’s assessment: “He’s a football player. He’s got a knack.”

The 49ers hope Ellington has a knack for returning punts after he handled just three at South Carolina. Running back LaMichael James (dislocated elbow) is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener, but Ellington could, at the very least, provide the team with a fallback option.

Ellington’s history suggests he’ll be up to the task. In college, he was a quick study at wide receiver, a position he’s only played for three seasons. And he’s one of the 49ers’ best athletes: He was a three-year starter at point guard at South Carolina.

Ellington is already aware of one trait a returner must possess. As he was savoring his NFL moment and listening to catcalls Thursday, he gave himself an instruction: Don’t fumble.

“After I got that kickoff, I was running like this through the hole to keep that ball protected,” said Ellington, bear-hugging an imaginary football at his locker. “I was nervous, man. I’m not even going to lie.”

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The 49ers will have three joint practices with the Ravens at their facility in Owings Mills, Md., starting Saturday afternoon. Eighteen months after the Ravens beat the 49ers in the Super Bowl, the teams will share showers, the cafeteria and parts of the facility.

“I think it’s going to be good, but it’s also going to be interesting,” Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs said. “I know it will be competitive and pretty cool.”

The 49ers will return home Monday afternoon following their final practice.