The San Francisco 49ers have made a decision on their No. 3 quarterback, as they are releasing quarterback Adrian Martinez, paving the way for 2025 seventh-round pick Kurtis Rourke to make the 53-man roster as the team’s third quarterback.
Martinez, 26, had thrown for 346 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions during the preseason, seeing action in all three games. He had been a long shot to make the 53-man roster after a solid offseason and initial preseason outing from Rourke, who completed
12 of 14 passes for 101 yards as the starter in the 49ers’ first preseason game.
Martinez had been on the 49ers practice squad last season, being signed in August and serving as the No. 2 quarterback to Mac Jones when Brock Purdy was hurt for parts of 2025. The team signed him to a futures contract in January, and he had been competing for the No. 3 role this offseason.
But the 49ers had shown interest in Rourke, who missed his entire rookie year after recovering from a torn ACL sustained in the final game of his collegiate career at Indiana. They drafted him in the seventh round last year, and he now jumps into the No. 3 quarterback role and will be the emergency quarterback on game days.
Rourke’s impressive preseason start also paves the path for him to eventually be the 49ers backup once Mac Jones’s deal expires next offseason. As for Martinez, he could return to the 49ers practice squad following the 53-man roster cutdown period of no other opportunities arise.
