The decision isn't necessarily a surprise considering what Rourke showed in his limited preseason action (and what Martinez showed in his extended action).
Rourke looked good in the 49ers' preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, finishing 12 for 14 for 101 yards before his night ended with a rib injury. He suffered three broken ribs on a goal-line play and was taken to the hospital after experiencing trouble breathing.
The injury kept Rourke out for the remainder of the preseason, but apparently it wasn't enough to change the team's evaluation of him.
The former Indiana Hoosier missed the entire 2025 season after suffering a knee injury during his final college season. The 49ers selected him in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft, knowing he would need time to recover. Although he's barely played, 49ers coaches believe they have seen enough.
Martinez tried to make a case of his own. He saw plenty of action throughout the preseason and showed some of the athleticism that made him an intriguing option behind Purdy and Jones. He made some plays through the air and on the ground. But he was just too inconsistent. The 49ers ultimately opted for Rourke.
For a team that has dealt with its share of quarterback injuries in recent years, having a capable number three quarterback is important. When Purdy missed the first game the 49ers played against the Los Angeles Rams last season, Jones showed great toughness in leading the team to victory. But he dealt with his own injuries, and Martinez was almost called upon. The 49ers hope Rourke is a better option in case that happens again.
More moves will be made on Sunday as the 49ers pare down their roster to the initial 53.
Written By:
Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
YouTube.com/@49ersCamelot
Find the 49ers Camelot show wherever you listen to your podcasts!
All articles by Marc Adams
Marc Adams
Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
YouTube.com/@49ersCamelot
Find the 49ers Camelot show wherever you listen to your podcasts!
All articles by Marc Adams
Related News
Nobody's perfect. Did you find a mistake in this article? Report it.
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
53 and Counting: 49ers Still Have Roster Moves to Make
The San Francisco 49ers trimmed their roster to the mandatory 53-man limit yesterday, and while most of them were expected, some of them were surprises, including a trade. Here are the players who made the roster by Sunday's deadline: Quarterbacks (3): Brock Purdy, Mac... -
49ers make roster moves in Melbourne, promote veteran and waive tight end
According to the NFL transaction wire, the San Francisco 49ers made a couple of roster moves from Melbourne, Australia, on Saturday. The team signed veteran long snapper Jon Weeks from its practice squad to the active roster, making him eligible to play in Week 1 against the... -
49ers Throwback: Ricky "Running" Watters runs all over the Giants
Ricky Watters can arguably be considered one of the top five running backs in San Francisco 49ers history, despite spending only a relatively short time with the team. Some would argue that, had Watters remained in San Francisco, he could have potentially broken Joe Perry's... -
49ers injury news: Kyle Shanahan provides 3 key updates after win over Raiders
San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan spoke to reporters after Thursday night's 18-12 preseason win over the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium, providing three key injury updates from the game. Rookie cornerback Ephesians Prysock, a fourth-round pick in the 2026...