49ers Sign OL Ben Bartch Off Jaguars' Practice Squad

Former Jacksonville Jaguars fourth-round pick Ben Bartch is on the move.

A few weeks after Bartch joined the practice squad following his release at the trade deadline, Bartch has found himself back on an active roster after being signed by the San Francisco 49ers this week. 

Bartch will now exit the Jaguars' practice squad and join the 49ers' 53-man roster on a one-year deal, effectively ending his Jaguars career.

Bartch began training camp on the PUP list and returned to action toward the end of training camp, winning the left guard job almost immediately upon his return. Bartch started the first three games of the season before being benched for Tyler Shatley in Week 4 and falling down the depth chart.

A fourth round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Bartch has appeared in 41 games for the Jaguars over the last three seasons, starting 20.

The Jaguars traded a sixth-round pick to the Minnesota Vikings for guard Ezra Cleveland at the trade deadline, dealing a 6th-round selection that they earned for Laviska Shenault and ultimately taking Bartch's roster spot.

Cleveland, 25, was a second-round selection out of Boise State in 2020 and has appeared in 54 career games for the Vikings, starting 40. He has started most of his games at left guard, but did spend his rookie season at right guard.

Cleveland has started and appeared in six games this season for the Vikings, all at left guard. His rookie deal is set to expire at the end of the 2023 season. He then made his Jaguars debut in Week 10 before seeing the field for offensive snaps for the first time in Week 11, playing left guard for two series.