The 49ers bolstered their depth-starved backfield corps Saturday by agreeing to terms with Saints running back Tim Hightower, who had 1,252 total yards in a backup role the past two seasons.
The addition of Hightower, 30, was announced by general manager John Lynch on Twitter.’
Hightower is the latest free-agent addition with ties to head coach Kyle Shanahan. In 2011, Hightower played in Washington when Shanahan was the offensive coordinator and 49ers running backs coach Bobby Turner was also on the staff. Wide receiver Pierre Garcon, quarterback Brian Hoyer, tight end Logan Paulsen and wideout Aldrick Robinson are other recent addition who previously played for Shanahan.