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3 quarterbacks (including 2 old friends) 49ers can sign after Kurtis Rourke’s injury

Niner Noise · Nick San Miguel · 2026-08-16T19:11:13+00:00 · nguồn gốc

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Kurtis Rourke had a solid showing in Thursday’s preseason game. He completed 12 of his 14 passes for 101 yards. However, he left the game under scary circumstances as he injured his ribs and had to be taken to the hospital after having difficulty breathing. Thankfully, he was discharged from the hospital on Thursday night, and the hope is that the injury is not long term. Still, it may not be a bad idea to sign another quarterback, especially since the Niners likely don’t want Brock Purdy or Mac Jones playing too much in August. Adrian Martinez had to play the rest of Thursday’s game, but he shouldn’t be the one shouldering the entire load. Rourke is the favorite for the No. 3 spot on the depth chart, and, depending on how good he looks, there’s a chance the Niners will be content with him as Purdy's backup if Jones were to sign elsewhere next offseason. That’s the future, though. The Niners need to worry about the present. Let’s look at three guys they can sign right now to add more depth to the quarterback room. Jack Plummer A few weeks ago, the 49ers brought quarterback Jack Plummer in for a workout to throw to some tight ends. He was the UFL MVP earlier this season, and he’s a pretty obvious choice if the Niners just need a healthy body to throw passes in practice and potentially in a preseason game. The worst-case scenario is that he fails to show anything significant, but a reigning MVP, no matter where the award came from, is nothing to scoff at. C.J. Beathard It’s been a while since C.J. Beathard threw a pass in an NFL regular season game - 2023 to be exact. He last played with the Detroit Lions on their practice squad in 2025 but is currently without a team. The 49ers drafted him in the third round back in 2017, and he lasted with San Francisco until 2020. He’s a serviceable option, and he still has a few relationships with some of his former teammates, so San Francisco likely still has his number close by. Tanner Mordecai The name is a bit of a deeper cut for 49ers fans. Not everyone remembers where they were when watching Tanner Mordecai and Carter Bradley take preseason snaps last year (hopefully they were out doing literally anything else), but those who endured the mess know at least a little about the journeyman. All jokes aside, Mordecai actually performed passably last year. He completed 13 of 19 passes and represents another guy who could come in if needed. One hopes Rourke will be fine and will be able to play in the rest of the preseason, but if he can’t, then maybe the diehards will be treated to a fun reunion or two.