Ben

Bartch

It’s a high-ankle sprain. It’s possible that Bartch would make it back for the playoffs if the 49ers can overcome the odds to get there, but with Aaron Banks back he probably wouldn’t make the starting lineup if he did. Bartch had a career-best 74.8 PFF grade in 65 snaps blocking this season and will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason entering his age-27 season. It’s possible he’s done enough to earn a stopgap starter spot somewhere, depending on how offensive line situations shake out for the Shanaclan this offseason.

Bartch started in place of LG Aaron Banks, who is currently sidelined by a concussion. Bartch remained down after a play and was eventually escorted to the blue medical tent. Backup OL Spencer Burford replaced Bartch at LG.

Hufanga is now out with an ankle injury, one week after making his 2024 debut following his 2023 ACL reconstruction. The 49ers will fortunately have Williams (illness, toe) protecting Brock Purdy’s blindside though. Deebo Samuel Sr. is active as well. He remains a high-ceiling WR1, though the 49ers could opt to rest him late in the game if they establish a comfortable lead, as expected.

Kittle and Samuel were already ruled out. Though both players, along with Christian McCaffrey, will be missed, all remaining inactive players are backups. Starting defenders, Nick Bosa (rib) and Charvarius Ward (hamstring/knee) are active, as is Talanoa Hufanga (knee), who makes his regular season debut following his 2023 ACL tear.

Batch was set to be a restricted free agent before agreeing to a deal with the 49ers. Bartch played just 28 offensive snaps for the 49ers in 2023 after the team acquired him from the Jaguars, but according to Barrows, offensive line coach Chris Foerster is a fan of Bartch’s quickness and versatility. He should have a chance to compete for a spot along the interior of the offensive line in camp.

Bartch will take the roster spot created when the 49ers put safety Talanoa Hufanga on the injured reserve with a season-ending ACL tear. Bartch has started 20 games since being drafted by the Jaguars in the fourth-round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He dislocated his knee in Week 5 of last season and was activated from the PUP list by Jacksonville in late August. He then started the first three games of the season before the Jaguars benched him and then cut him. With both of the 49ers’ starting guards, Aaron Banks (toe) and Spencer Burford (knee), non-participants in Monday’s practice, they needed some interior offensive line depth.

Bartch started all five games prior to suffering a dislocated knee in Week 5, an injury that ended up costing him the remainder of the 2022 season. He is expected to regain a starting role as an interior offensive lineman for the Jaguars in 2023 assuming he can return to health prior to the start of the season. While PUP list additions prior to camp are far from damning, a return to the field in some capacity will spell any concerns regarding his status heading into the new season.

He dislocated his knee in Week 5’s loss to the Texans and will miss at least four games. Bartch had started every game this season up until this point at left guard. He’ll be replaced by Tyler Shatley.

The No. 116 overall pick of the draft, Bartch filled in as the left guard for Sunday’s blowout loss to the Titans. It is unclear if he is COVID positive himself or merely a “close contact.” If it is the latter, he will be eligible to suit up for Sunday’s game against the Ravens.

Bartch (6'5"/309), a converted D-III tight end who has since bulked up from 210 points in his senior year of high school, made 27 starts at left tackle in his final two seasons with the St. John Johnnies before turning heads with a successful Senior Bowl week. While his technique is impressively sound for someone relatively new at the position, there are concerns he won’t be able to compensate for his weaknesses — trouble at contact, feeble one-on-one drive, core strength issues — at the next level. The NFL will present competition the likes of which Bartch has never seen but his promising building blocks could entrench him as a starter on the right side if he can develop.