Kurtis Rourke’s first preseason outing gave the 49ers plenty to like before the night took an abrupt turn.
Against the Tennessee Titans, the San Francisco quarterback was sharp and efficient, going 12 of 14 for 101 yards while adding 14 rushing yards on three carries. For a player trying to carve out a role, it was exactly the kind of showing that gets attention fast.
Then came the second quarter and the setback. Rourke was later taken to the hospital after dealing with breathing issues, and initial X-rays showed no broken ribs, which helped ease some of the concern around the injury.
Even with the interruption, offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak came away believing there’s more in Rourke’s game. Speaking to reporters on Sunday after training camp, Kubiak said, “Yeah, I think it’s premature [to say his roster designation]. I mean, he’s a really young player who’s got a bright future with a lot of room to grow, but that is why we drafted him, is we thought he was an NFL quarterback."
Kubiak went further, pointing to the talent the 49ers saw before drafting him. “I think we saw a lot of talent. That he was probably better than a seventh-round pick, but he had an injury in college that we knew he wasn’t going to be able to play much his first year, so his draft value maybe fell a little bit.
"But evaluating, we saw a guy who was an NFL thrower, who was very bright, who had the right size and who had the chance to be a player. So, yeah, we still think he is. And I think he’s taken steps in that direction, but he’s got to keep going.”
The injury complicates the picture for San Francisco’s third quarterback spot. The 49ers could choose to carry only Brock Purdy and Mac Jones on the initial 53-man roster, which would leave Rourke on the outside looking in. He can still win the job, but if he doesn’t, the practice squad looks like the likelier landing spot.
There’s still plenty riding on this season for Rourke, whom Kubiak described as “effectively a rookie” after last year’s ACL injury. The 49ers see the year as a chance for him to keep developing and show he belongs, especially with Jones’ future beyond this season still unsettled. If Jones is traded or leaves when his contract expires, Rourke could be in position to move into the backup role behind Purdy.
For now, though, it’s a small setback after a promising start. The next step is simple: wait and see whether Rourke makes the 53-man roster.
In Other News...
49ers Just Added An Awkward New Twist To The Melbourne Showdown
The 49ers trip to Melbourne already had plenty of intrigue, and Jack Bouwmeesters path through it adds another layer. San Francisco brought in the Australian punter as part of its preseason competition, but the team moved on before camp broke and kept Corliss Waitman in place as the punter while sorting through roster needs and injuries elsewhere.
Bouwmeester did not stay on the market long, landing with the Rams through the international player exemption. It gives Los Angeles a chance to keep him around without using one of its 90 roster spots, and it also leaves a familiar wrinkle for the 49ers, who may end up seeing the specialist they waived in the very setting that helped bring him into the NFL conversation. [Read more 🡒]
George Kittles Recovery Has 49ers Fans Rethinking The Opener
George Kittles recovery has become one of the more intriguing developments around 49ers training camp, because it is no longer just about how he looks in drills, but when he might actually be back in the lineup. The tight end is rehabbing the Achilles injury he suffered in last seasons playoffs, and the early signs have been encouraging enough that NFL Networks Ian Rapoport watched Kittle work out and came away with the sense that the timeline is moving in the right direction.
For San Francisco, any progress with Kittle matters because of what he means to the offense and because injuries of this kind usually take longer to work through. He is already seven months into the recovery process, which has put him ahead of the usual pace, and that is enough to make the opener feel a little less certain than it did a few weeks ago. The 49ers still have time to sort out how aggressive they want to be, but the possibility of having Kittle involved early changes the conversation around Week 1 in a meaningful way. [Read more 🡒]
Christian McCaffrey Has 49ers Fans Feeling Familiar Preseason Anxiety
Christian McCaffreys preseason has once again turned into a waiting game, and for 49ers fans, that is usually enough to stir up nerves before the games even count. The running back has not been practicing during the 2026 preseason because of an unspecified injury, leaving his status for the regular season unsettled as the team works through the usual questions that come with one of the leagues most dynamic, and heavily used, players.
There is always some hope this is simply the 49ers being careful with a star they want available when it matters most, especially given McCaffreys injury history and the pounding he has taken in recent seasons. But until he is back on the field, the uncertainty hangs over everything, with fans and observers left to wonder whether this is routine maintenance or something more concerning. [Read more 🡒]