In just over two months with the 49ers during the 2023 NFL season, offensive lineman Ben Bartch appears to have made a good impression.
San Francisco is re-signing Bartch to a one-year contract, a source told NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco on Sunday. The Athletic's Matt Barrows was first to report the news.
Bartch was set to hit NFL free agency this Wednesday. The offensive guard appeared in eight games, regular season and playoffs, for the 49ers this past season after San Francisco signed him off the Jacksonville Jaguars practice squad in November.
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Bartch provided the 49ers with more offensive line depth as starters Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford dealt with injuries. In Weeks 13 through 17 with San Francisco, Bartch was on the field for 28 offensive snaps and 23 on special teams.
The Jaguars selected Bartch in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and he made waves during that year's scouting combine for his wild smoothie recipe.
The Bartch contract isn't the only move the 49ers have made in recent days. San Francisco also signed right tackle Colton McKivitz to a one-year, $7 million contract extension through the 2025 NFL season, his agency announced Friday.
San Francisco 49ers
With Bartch returning to the 49ers for another season, it appears as if his interesting smoothies still are working for him.
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