The San Francisco 49ers have officially made their call on the number three quarterback spot, releasing Adrian Martinez. This move clears the path for their 2025 seventh-round pick, Kurtis Rourke, to snag a place on the 53-man roster as their third-string signal-caller.
Martinez’s Preseason Numbers Weren’t Enough
Martinez, who is 26, saw action in all three preseason games for the Niners. He put up 346 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. Truth be told, he was a long shot for the 53-man roster, especially after Rourke dropped a solid initial preseason outing. Remember, Martinez was on the 49ers’ practice squad last season, signed in August, and even served as the No. 2 guy behind Mac Jones when Brock Purdy was sidelined for parts of 2025. The team inked him to a futures contract back in January, and he was fighting hard for this third spot all offseason. But those numbers, those picks, just didn’t cut it.
Rourke’s Rise from a Torn ACL to QB3
So, who is this Rourke guy? The Niners drafted him in the seventh round last year, even after he missed his entire rookie season recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in the final game of his college career at Indiana. That’s a huge hurdle to overcome. But the team had clearly shown interest in him, and he delivered in that first preseason game, completing 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards as the starter. That’s efficient, that’s clean. Now, he jumps straight into the No. 3 quarterback role and will be the emergency guy on game days. It’s a pretty wild jump for someone coming off a missed rookie year and a major injury.
This isn’t just about this season, either. Rourke’s impressive preseason start actually paves the way for him to potentially be the 49ers’ backup quarterback once Mac Jones’s deal runs out next offseason. As for Martinez, there’s a chance he could end up back on the 49ers practice squad after the 53-man roster cutdown period, but only if no other opportunities pop up. It’s a clear signal that the Niners are banking on young talent with long-term potential.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Niners Nation.
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