The San Francisco 49ers are in dire straits along the offensive line.
Left tackle Trent Williams, backup left tackle Jaylon Moore and left guard Aaron Banks are all out for the team’s final two games of the 2024 regular season. Backup LG Ben Bartch is already on IR with an ankle injury, and third-string LG and LT Spencer Burford is dealing with a calf injury that may cost him Week 17.
In response to the rash of injuries, the 49ers are adding offensive tackle Charlie Heck off the Arizona Cardinals practice squad according to ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss.
Heck, 28, was a fourth-round pick of the Houston Texans in the 2020 NFL draft out of the University of North Carolina. He spent his first four seasons in Houston before joining the Cardinals for the 2024 campaign.
In Houston he started 21 of the 41 games he played, including a career-high 13 starts in 2021.
He gives the 49ers some depth at tackle where head coach Kyle Shanahan indicated the team will have to move some guards outside to try and fill out an OL.
Austen Pleasants was added to the 49ers practice squad before Week 16 and promoted to the active roster after one week of practice.
It’s unclear what the corresponding roster move will be for San Francisco. With multiple OL already done for the year they have several options for IR to clear a spot on the active roster.
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