Depth at inside linebacker became a focal point for the San Francisco 49ers since the unexpected dual retirements of Patrick Willis and Chris Borland in a six-day window earlier this month.
Since then, the Niners were linked to the likes of Lance Briggs, a seven-time Pro Bowler, Erin Henderson, who was out of the NFL last year, and Philip Wheeler, who has primarily been an outside linebacker in his seven-year career.
But Tuesday, after reportedly working out Briggs and Wheeler, along with receiver Hakeem Nicks at their Santa Clara, California, compound -- Henderson recently met with Niners reps off site -- the 49ers stayed in house, so to speak, in signing Desmond Bishop after he had also worked out.
The team announced it was a one-year deal, though financial terms were not disclosed.
Bishop, 30, originally joined the 49ers before Week 16 last December, after Borland went down with a season-ending ankle injury. Bishop had two special-teams tackles and one tackle on defense in two games.
Originally a sixth-round draft choice of the Green Bay Packers out of Cal in 2007, Bishop has played in 75 games, starting 27, in his career and has 319 tackles, nine sacks, seven forced fumbles, an interception and 13 passes defensed in his eight-year career. He has also played for the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals in his career.
Bishop is expected to provide depth behind presumptive starters Michael Wilhoite, who started 16 games for the first time in his career last year, and NaVorro Bowman, who missed last season recovering from a left knee injury suffered in the NFC title game in January 2014.