The San Francisco 49ers didn't draft a quarterback. The team couldn't add one as an undrafted free agent. However, on Wednesday morning, the 49ers finally have their fourth quarterback. According to Tom Pelissero and Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, the team is signing veteran Brandon Allen.
"Allen helped mentor Joe Burrow in Cincinnati the past three years," wrote Pelissero. "Now Allen joins a young QB room in San Francisco."
Veteran QB Brandon Allen is signing with the #49ers, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo.
Allen helped mentor Joe Burrow in Cincinnati the past three years. Now Allen joins a young QB room in San Francisco. #TakeItOffMG
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) May 3, 2023
The 49ers needed a fourth quarterback this offseason because Brock Purdy is recovering from his March 10 surgery to repair the tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, an injury suffered during the NFC Championship Game.
Until Allen's signing, the only other quarterbacks on the roster to split offseason reps were former No. 3 overall picks Trey Lance and Sam Darnold. With Purdy likely sidelined until late August or early September, the 49ers needed another quarterback this offseason.
"We'd love to get a fourth guy here," head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the draft. "We'll see which one it is. We'll be alright, though, in the offseason. We'll get to training camp. Hopefully, we'll get Brock back soon. Regardless, we'd love a fourth guy here. You never know how much we end up doing in the OTAs sessions, but it has been good having two guys out there throwing."
The Jacksonville Jaguars made Allen (6-2, 209) a sixth-round selection (No. 201 overall) out of Arkansas in 2016. He completed all three of his attempts (100 percent) for 22 yards in one game appearance with the Cincinnati Bengals last season, per Pro Football Reference.
Allen, 30, has completed 56.7 percent of his passes for 1,611 yards with 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in 15 game appearances (nine starts) over the past four NFL seasons spent between the Denver Broncos and Bengals.