5 cheap free agents SF 49ers should sign in case of injury
By Peter Panacy
SF 49ers Target No. 5: Offensive Lineman James Ferentz
Wide receiver isn’t the only position at which the 49ers have been banged up during training camp.
The offensive line, particularly along the interior, has dealt with some pretty notable injuries both before and during camp. Starting center Weston Richburg, who suffered a torn patellar tear in Week 14 last year, wasn’t cleared in time for training camp and is expected to start the season on the physically unable-to-perform (PUP) list, putting him out of action for at least six weeks.
Richburg’s backup, Ben Garland, has also been banged up during camp, too.
The Niners’ interior depth isn’t particularly great, and that could force the team to move probable starting right guard Daniel Brunskill over to center, keeping an underperforming Tom Compton on the roster.
But to help with the depth, it might be a better idea to bring aboard 31-year-old veteran center James Ferentz who spent 2019 as a backup for the New England Patriots.
Ferentz has been a journeyman backup since joining the NFL as an undrafted free-agent signing of the Houston Texans back in 2014. Yet if you’re looking for a link to tie him to San Francisco, look no further than Ferentz’s college ball at Iowa.
Kyle Shanahan sure loves his Iowa players, especially those in the Hawkeyes’ run-first scheme.