The San Francisco 49ers have claimed linebacker Garret Wallow off waivers from the Denver Broncos. To make room on the roster, the team placed offensive lineman Ben Bartch on the injured reserve list. Bartch suffered a foot injury in Week 13 against the Cleveland Browns.
Last week, when asked if Bartch could return for the playoffs, head coach Kyle Shanahan said, "They're still evaluating the necessary steps, when he gets surgery and stuff, so I didn't ask that. It didn't sound like it. We're looking at possible Lisfranc here, so that would surprise me, but not 100% sure."
The 49ers Communications staff provided the following rundown.
Wallow (6-2, 230) was originally drafted by the Houston Texans in the fifth round (170th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft. Throughout his five-year career with the Texans (2021-23), Tennessee Titans (2023-24) and Broncos (2025), Wallow has appeared in 42 games (five starts) and registered 36 tackles, 1.0 sack and 1 pass defensed in addition to 11 special teams tackles. In 2025, he appeared in seven games with the Broncos and tallied five special teams tackles prior to being waived by the team on December 6.
A 26-year-old native of River Ridge, LA, Wallow attended Texas Christian University (2017-20) where he appeared in 48 games and registered 293 tackles, 9.5 sacks, five passes defensed, three forced fumbles and one interception.
Bartch (6-6, 315) appeared in six games (two starts) with the team this season.
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