Multiple operations force center Richburg to end his career

Center Weston Richburg, who has had surgery on his quadriceps, knee, shoulder and hip since the end of the 2018 season, officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday after a sixseason career that included 78 starts.

Richburg, 29, played his last game Dec. 8, 2019, when he tore his patella tendon in the 49ers’ win against the Saints. He signed a fiveyear, $47.5 million deal with the 49ers in 2018 after missing the final 12 games in 2017 with a concussion when he was with the Giants.

“Injuries are an unfortunate part of this game and I’ve reached a point where my body won’t allow me to continue playing and competing at a high level,” Richburg said in a statement. “I was able to play some good football all over the country and was fortunate enough to finish my career with the greatest franchise in sports.”

Richburg played 15 games in 2018 despite dealing for most of the season with a quadriceps injury that required offseason surgery. After missing the 2020 season with a shoulder injury, Richburg still wasn’t healthy. He had hip surgery this offseason.

“Weston was someone who made not only our offense, but our entire team better,” general manager John Lynch said. “He led by example through his detailed approach and the toughness in which he played the game.”

Richburg, a 2014 secondround pick from Colorado State, made 28 starts with the 49ers. The 49ers signed Pro Bowl center Alex Mack, 35, in March to replace him.

Tight end added: The 49ers signed MyCole Pruitt ,29,a blocking tight end who had 20 receptions for 241 yards while playing 893 snaps for the Titans over the past three seasons. The move suggests the 49ers will not sign Pro Bowl tight end Delanie Walker, 36, who didn’t play in the NFL last year and missed 24 games from 2018 and ’19 because of ankle injuries. Walker had a tryout with the 49ers on Wednesday.

Pruitt, a 2015 fifthround pick of the Vikings, also has spent time with the Bears, Bills and Texans in his sixseason, 63game career.

Injury report: The 49ers had several players who didn’t participate in practice Wednesday because of injuries: wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk (groin), Richie James (hamstring) and Travis Benjamin, running back Raheem Mostert (knee), linebacker Nathan Gerry (Achilles), defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (shoulder) and safeties Jaquiski Tartt (toe) and Marcell Harris (groin). A team spokesman said none of the injuries would prevent any of the players from being ready for the starting of training camp in late July.