San Fransisco 49ers signed free agent running back Tim Hightower on Saturday, April 1. The team now has a sufficient depth in the position.
Hightower is a 9-year-veteran in the league, San Fransisco 49ers expects him to give sufficient depth, and also share his experience with younger players. 49ers General Manager Rick Lynch announced Saturday about the agreement, NFL reported.
The 30-year-old running back will become the second running back joining the 49ers as DuJuan Harris has re-signed with the team a few days earlier. San Fransisco 49ers added two running backs behind the starter Carlos Hyde in the team rotation. The two additional running back will provide more than enough depths for the team's offensive lineups, as the San Fransisco 49ers has signed fullback Kyle Juszczyk in early March. Hightower and Harris will be in the rotation behind Juszczyk to ease the job of head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Prior to join the San Fransisco 49ers, Hightower played in New Orleans Saints for two seasons since 2015. He signed with the Saints after four years absent following his torn ACL in 2011 and Washington Redskins waived him before the 2012 season began. Hightower expressed his gratitude to the Saints management for giving him opportunity, ESPN reported.
During his two seasons' stint in New Orleans he made one of the most amazing comebacks in the history of NFL. Hightower made a total of 923 rushing yards and 329 receiving yards with 32 touchdowns for New Orleans Saints in two seasons.
At the beginning of his professional career, Hightower was not regarded as an elite running back. He was drafted in the 5th round by Arizona Cardinals of 2008 NFL Draft as the 149th overall picks. However, he proved to be one of the high rated running back for the Cardinals, as he set the record for the total touchdown by rookies for the Cardinals with 10 totals.
Watch one of his performance with the Saints against Atlanta Seahawk as he rushed for 102 yards below:
