SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 31 (UPI) -- The San Francisco on Wednesday provided some insurance for quarterback Jeff Garcia's bad knee, re-signing veteran Rick Mirer to a one-year contract.
Financial terms were not disclosed.
The 49ers had to release three players to make room under the salary cap. They waived linebacker Shane Elam and defensive end John Milem while letting go of offensive tackle Mark Bristol from the practice squad.
Mirer was with the Niners through training camp and preseason before being released on Sept. 4. But the team needed some insurance after Garcia injured his right knee Sunday in Chicago.
Garcia has completed 64.6 percent of his passes for 1,410 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions but was hobbled by his injury in San Francisco's overtime loss Sunday.
The injury forced the 49ers to bring back Mirer, who will be the third quarterback behind Garcia and Tim Rattay when the team hosts Detroit on Sunday.
Mirer was the second overall pick in the 1993 draft but has been a major bust, throwing 47 touchdown passes and 71 interceptions over 60 starts in nine NFL seasons. He played in just one game for the 49ers last year.
Mirer passed for a career-high 2,883 yards as a rookie with Seattle but regressed over the next three seasons and was shipped to Chicago for a first-round pick.
After one year with the Bears, Mirer was waived. He also served as a backup with Green Bay and the New York Jets before joining the Niners in 2000.
