The 49ers on Wednesday announced offensive lineman Jake Brendel will return on a one-year deal.
Brendel wound up sticking around on San Francisco’s active roster for 16 games last season after originally being released in late August. He mostly saw action on special teams as the team’s backup center behind Alex Mack.
There’s a chance Mack retires this offseason and leaves Brendel as the frontrunner to take over the starting center job, so this signing could have some real significance later in the offseason. Even if Mack doesn’t retire, Brendel could compete at either guard spot depending on what happens with Laken Tomlinson, and he’d provide depth at center.
Brendel joined the 49ers in 2020 and sat out the season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to coming to San Francisco he spent time with the Cowboys, Dolphins, Broncos and Ravens. The 2016 undrafted free agent has played in 37 games with three starts in his six-year career.
