The San Francisco 49ers are re-signing defensive tackle Earl Mitchell, according to Matt Barrows of The Athletic.
Per source, the #49ers will be signing a familiar face, that of former nose tackle Earl Mitchell, to help bolster the interior of their defensive line.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) December 31, 2019
As Barrows notes, the move comes after injuries have devastated the defensive line's depth in recent weeks. Defensive linemen Ronald Blair (ACL), Damontre Moore (fractured arm), D.J. Jones (ankle sprain), and Jullian Taylor (ACL) — all key contributors — have landed on injured reserve.
San Francisco finished the regular season with the NFC's best record and owns home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Its next game will be on Saturday, January 11, when it hosts the lowest-seeded team to emerge from Wildcard weekend.
Mitchell posted the following video on Instagram shortly after Barrows broke the story.
Mitchell, 32, spent two seasons (2017-18) with the 49ers before the team declined to pick up his option. He spent the offseason with the Seattle Seahawks, was released on August 31, and announced his retirement on November 7.
Mitchell started all 16 games in his first season with the 49ers, and the first 12 last year before the coaching staff decided to sit him in favor of then-second-year defensive tackle D.J. Jones.
The Houston Texans made Mitchell a third-round selection out of Arizona in 2010. He has recorded 268 combined tackles, 6.5 sacks, nine passes defensed, and a forced fumble through his nine NFL seasons.
Mitchell spent three seasons (2014-16) with the Miami Dolphins before joining the 49ers in 2017.