If you thought veteran offensive lineman Mike Person was merely going to be a reserve player for the San Francisco 49ers back when he signed a one-year deal in 2018, join the club.
After all, Person’s only season serving in a regular starting role came back in 2015 with the Atlanta Falcons. Aside from that, in nearly every year since initially being drafted by the Niners in Round 7 back in 2011, the 31-year-old veteran has been little more than a backup.
But that lone starting season with Atlanta is important, as now-49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan witnessed Person’s abilities firsthand, as the former was the Falcons’ offensive coordinator.