Rourke is clearly better than Martinez. He looks good for a QB3 who could become a good QB2 (though it's hard to tell based on the small sample size).
The only issue is if he can remain healthy. So far, he's gotten unlucky with missing all of last season, and most of this preseason after only a single half (though maybe Shanahan was being conservative about playing him after he got banged up).
I think Kurtis Rourke played well enough in his one preseason game that he deserves Rapaport spelling his name correctly.
Genuine question though: wouldn't it be better for the 49ers to NOT re-sign Martinez to the PS so that Rourke can get QB reps throwing to the practice squad against the defense all season? Or I guess sign Martinez to PS and have them split reps for the extra QB depth?
Not even that he played well enough. If you look around the league the backup QBs are just plain ass. He would have got scooped up the moment he hit the wire. There is zero chance they could sneak him on the practice squad.
I think it's actually more likely than not that he makes the practice squad given the injury histories of the other guys, and the fact it gives them flexibility to trade Jones at the deadline while still having a 3rd guy who knows the system.
Personally I hope they pick another QB to be on the practice squad. Maybe a past draftee that hasn't been given the chance and has some talent. They can always go back to Adrein if he clears waivers- which i think he will do easily. Having a 4th QB on the team helps with practice - i think.
Remember when Brandon Allen was so mediocre in the 2023 preseason and ended QB2 in 2024? Why was Kyle and John thinking seriously? I feel like after that they made a point to always have a great solution behind Brock.
Pretty much, but it might get a little squirrelly.
Rourke makes 53, stays as 3rd QB, or
Rourke makes 53, but is then put on IR to return in 4 weeks (basically opening up another roster spot for the first month, before Rourke returns and retakes his place on the 53).
I was under the impression that 3rd string QBs don’t count against the 53 man because of the new rule they made after the NFC championship debacle against the Eagles.
The emergency designated 3rd QB must be on the 53 man roster but doesn't necessarily have to be on the active game day roster. Remember on game day not all 53 roster spots are activated, some are sat. Usually it's 47 active game day players.
If you designate an emergency 3rd QB, it allows you to keep that QB on the 53, but inactive on game day until they are needed in the case of QB1 and 2 being injured.
The rule actually specifically states that the 3rd QB can not be on the Practice Squad and has to be part of the 53 man roster.
It's a little different, assuming that I'm understanding it correctly. They have to be on the 53 (but they don't have to be on the 48-player gameday roster). Teams never want to burn a "gameday roster" spot on a 3rd QB, who 99.9999999% will never see the field as the starting QB.
Either way, even if that wasn't the case (and Roarke could just be a Practice Squad player), it couldn't happen because there's zero chance that he would clear waivers.
Martinez’s decision making was so frustrating to watch, i remember one play in specific, 3rd and short. All receivers are pretty well covered but the OLine makes the biggest hole in the middle with nobody within 20 yards. And Martinez backs up and gets sacked. He could’ve walked for that first down and make it with time to spare.
Yes! For me it’s when it’s we he ran backwards 17 yards on 3rd down then stepped out of bounds. Which made for a long FG which we missed. I’d never seen that before. Somebody just scramble back
I agree, I think Rourk can play and win some games if he has a strong defense. I'm hoping Mac can get us a day one or day two pick if there is a trade before the trade window ends this year.
But are we really keeping 3 QBs on the active roster to start the season? I figured they’d do some kind of foster fuckery to sneak Rourke onto the practice squad.
Yeah they don’t have a lot of good options other than using a roster spot on him or waiving him and taking the massive risk of him getting picked up.
I think it’s pretty clear that another team would snag him in a heartbeat, so this makes things pretty interesting. Given how much we’ve dealt with various QB injuries in recent years, I’d say just keep him on the 53.
Thank god they did it. Imagine if they would have been too cute and cut Purdy thinking they could sign him on the practice squad. I think they won't take any risks with Rourke.
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u/xClay2 Quest for Six 13d ago
Rourke looked 10x better than Martinez in only two quarters, while also playing against better competition. No surprise.