The 49ers may have gotten a scare with Kurtis Rourke, but they also may have a pretty simple fix if they want to add another arm.
Rourke looked sharp in Thursday’s preseason game, going 12 of 14 for 101 yards. Then came the worrying part: he left with injured ribs, had trouble breathing, and was taken to the hospital. The good news is he was discharged Thursday night, and the hope is that this won’t turn into a long-term issue.
Even so, San Francisco probably doesn’t want to lean too hard on Brock Purdy or Mac Jones this month. Adrian Martinez finished Thursday’s game, but he shouldn’t be asked to carry the whole burden if the 49ers want more quarterback depth behind the scenes.
For now, Rourke remains the favorite for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart. And depending on how he looks, there’s even a path where San Francisco could be comfortable with him as Purdy’s backup if Jones signs elsewhere next offseason.
That’s down the road, though. Right now, the 49ers need insurance.
One obvious option is Jack Plummer. The 49ers worked him out a few weeks ago so he could throw to some tight ends, and he fits the profile of a straightforward add if the team just wants someone healthy who can handle practice reps and maybe preseason snaps. Plummer also comes with a little shine after being the UFL MVP earlier this season.
Another familiar name is C.J. Beathard.
He hasn’t thrown a regular-season pass since 2023, and after spending time on the Detroit Lions’ practice squad in 2025, he’s currently without a team. The 49ers drafted him in the third round in 2017, and he stayed with San Francisco through 2020.
He’d bring experience, and he still has some ties to former teammates in the building.
Then there’s Tanner Mordecai, a less familiar option for most 49ers fans. He and Carter Bradley handled preseason work last year, and Mordecai actually held his own, completing 13 of 19 passes. He’s another body the 49ers could bring in if they need help quickly.
Rourke’s injury doesn’t have to become anything bigger, and the hope is he’ll be back in the mix soon. But if the 49ers decide they want another quarterback in the room, Plummer, Beathard and Mordecai are all sitting there as workable answers.
In Other News...
Nick Bosa Just Gave 49ers Fans A Reason To Exhale
Nick Bosas recovery is starting to look a little more encouraging for the 49ers, who have spent plenty of time trying to keep key players on the field after a run of injury troubles. The star pass rusher has been back in practice drills, a notable step after the ACL tear that sidelined him for much of last season and kept him out of the preseason opener.
The biggest sign of progress is the absence of the support sleeve on his right knee, a small detail that can carry outsized meaning this time of year. San Francisco still has every reason to be cautious with one of its most important players, but Bosa working his way back into drills gives the team and its fans something tangible to watch as the regular season approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy Is Sending A Clear Message About Deebo Samuel
Deebo Samuel is back in the building for the 49ers after spending a year with Washington, and Brock Purdy is making it clear the receiver still matters to this offense. Samuel returned on a one-year, $7 million deal during training camp, and Purdy has been vocal this preseason about the kind of value Samuel brings when he is moving around the formation and turning routine touches into something bigger.
For San Francisco, the timing matters. The 49ers are now carrying the oldest average roster in the league, and any questions about Samuels age-30 season only add to the scrutiny around a group trying to stay productive and fresh. Purdys message has been consistent, though, and it points to a familiar hope in Santa Clara: if Samuel is right, the offense gets another layer it can use right away. [Read more 🡒]
Kyle Shanahans Return Raises A 49ers Question That Isnt Going Away
Kyle Shanahan was back on the 49ers sideline for the preseason opener after spending the start of camp working his way back from injuries sustained in a July 14 car accident. The return itself mattered for a team trying to settle into August, but it also underscored how unusual his summer has been. Shanahan dealt with multiple fractures and a concussion, limiting what he could do throughout training camp while the rest of the staff kept the operation moving.
Klay Kubiak handled the play-calling duties in the preseason, keeping the offense on schedule while Shanahan eased back into his usual role. The setup leaves a familiar question hanging over San Francisco as the regular season approaches: how smoothly the transition back to Shanahan's full-time control will go once games start to count. For a coach who is such a central piece of the 49ers' identity, even a temporary shuffle has a way of drawing attention. [Read more 🡒]