SANTA CLARA — By re-signing Garry Gilliam to a two-year deal Tuesday, the 49ers have an experienced veteran at the ready if incumbent starter Trent Brown struggles to return from shoulder surgery or perhaps is made expendable.
Gilliam, 28, played eight games last season and sustained a season-ending knee injury in his starting debut Oct. 29 at Philadelphia, where Brown did not play because of a concussion.
Brown missed the final four games because of a shoulder injury that required surgery to fix a torn labrum.
