The San Francisco 49ers had both starting guards on their estimated injury report on Monday, and the possibility of being without Spencer Burford and Aaron Banks has prompted them to make a move up front.
San Francisco, per multiple reports, is signing guard Ben Bartch from the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad. Mia O'Brien of 1010XL was the first to report the signing. He will fill the roster spot of All-Pro safety Talanoa Hufanga, who is set to go on injured reserve after tearing his ACL in Sunday's win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Bartch was a fourth-round pick of the Jaguars in 2020 out of Division III Saint John's.
He was the Jaguars' starting left guard at the beginning of the 2022 season, only for a dislocated knee to end his campaign. Bartch began this year starting in the same spot but was benched in Week 4 and then lost his active roster spot after the Jaguars' trade for Ezra Cleveland.
The 2022 injury appears to have significantly slowed Bartch's development. After allowing four pressures in last year's season opener, he did not give up more than one in any of the subsequent four games. This year, he surrendered three pressures in each of his first three games, giving up two sacks.
Still, Bartch does provide an experienced option who at 25 has plenty of room to develop and could step in at short notice if left guard Banks and right guard Burford are both out.
Banks has missed the last two gams with turf toe. Burford was estimated as DNP with a knee injury. Veteran Jon Feliciano has filled in at left guard in Banks' absence and could flip to the right side if required so Bartch can reprise his role on the left with his new team.
The 49ers will hope it doesn't have to come to that, but at least they now have a contingency for the worst-case scenario.
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