The San Francisco 49ers filled the empty spot on their practice squad on Wednesday.
Defensive lineman Shakel Brown is returning to San Francisco to join their practice squad a day after the club released veteran safety Tracy Walker III.
Brown was with the 49ers in camp and had a nice preseason. His return gives the team additional internal depth to help replace defensive tackle Javon Hargrave who is out for the season following a partial triceps tear in Week 3.
San Francisco added Brown in the offseason and he spent time with them in training camp and the preseason. He played 72 snaps across the 49ers’ three preseason contests. Brown was let go at final cuts.
He’s also been with the Tennessee Titans and has yet to make his NFL debut.
This signing gives the 49ers a trio of interior defensive linemen on their practice squad. Brown joins veteran T.Y. McGill and undrafted rookie Evan Anderson as potential Hargrave replacements.
It’ll be interesting to see how the 49ers manage that group. They may permanently elevate a player, but they could opt to rotate through them with standard practice squad elevations to see which player fits best on the defensive front.
Figuring out how to fill the void left by Hargrave is now atop the 49ers’ to-do list on defense, and now they have another internal option.
