The San Francisco 49ers need help at the guard position, and they could look to an old friend for help.

Veteran guard Laken Tomlinson is set to hit the open market after the New York Jets made the decision to release him, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Tomlinson spent five seasons with the 49ers, who acquired him in a 2017 trade with the Detroit Lions.

He left to join the Jets in free agency after the 2021 season, with Aaron Banks replacing him as the starting left guard.

Banks' starting role in that spot is secure, but the 49ers have a huge question-mark at right guard following their Super Bowl 58 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.

Flipping sides on the offensive line is not an easy proposition, but what could attract the 49ers to the possibility of asking Tomlinson to do so is his familiarity with the offense and, even more pertinently, his durability.

Tomlinson has started 114 straight games. The last game he missed was the 2017 season opener following the 49ers' trade to acquire him.

After seeing their Super Bowl hopes dashed in part because of an injury to right guard Jon Feliciano, that incredible durability is a huge part of Tomlinson's appeal. Perhaps the 49ers might want a longer-term solution at this key problem area, but a reunion with Tomlinson would be no surprise.

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