The San Francisco 49ers announced that the team has signed offensive lineman Wesley Johnson to a one-year deal and cleared room on the roster by waiving tight end Marcus Lucas.
The Pittsburgh Steelers made Johnson a fifth-round selection out of Vanderbilt in 2014. He has 51 game appearances and 24 starts through his five NFL seasons. Johnson also spent time with the New York Jets, Detroit Lions (offseason only), and Miami Dolphins during his professional career.
Johnson started 23 games at center for the Jets from 2016 through 2017. He appeared in 10 games with the Dolphins last year and was signed following an injury to center Daniel Kilgore, who spent his first seven NFL seasons in San Francisco.
Johnson, 28, is a native of Nashville, Tennessee and started 51 collegiate games with Vanderbilt, including all 13 at left tackle as a senior in 2013.
Lucas was signed to the 49ers' practice squad on December 11, 2018. San Francisco signed him to a reserve/future contract on January 2.
The 49ers had already added to the offensive line depth on Monday by claiming guard Willie Beavers off waivers from the Chicago Bears.
Starting 49ers center Weston Richburg underwent surgery after the 2018 season to repair a knee injury suffered during a Week 4 contest against the Los Angeles Chargers. He started all but one game last year.
"I think it affected his play late in the year," general manager John Lynch said in January. "He was having trouble anchoring. We decided to go in there and get the thing cleaned up. It's going to be an extensive rehab. He'll be right up until training camp. We feel comfortable that the end result is it will allow him to perform to the great ability that he does have."
Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports that the 49ers were set to sign undrafted free agent center Brendan Moore of Maryland but he did not pass his physical.
#49ers were set to sign an undrafted center, Brendan Moore from Maryland, but he did not pass a physical last week.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) May 7, 2019
