The San Francisco 49ers announced on December 17, that they signed quarterback Adrian Martinez to their practice squad.
It’s a small roster move that can matter fast this time of year, especially with the 49ers heading into a Monday night matchup at Indianapolis and every practice rep suddenly feeling more valuable.
49ers Bring Back Adrian Martinez in a Familiar Late-Season Move
Martinez isn’t a new face in the building. NBC Sports’ Pro Football Talk noted Martinez has bounced between San Francisco’s practice squad and 53-man roster this season, and he even briefly appeared in one game to take a knee to end the 49ers’ Nov. 2 win over the New York Giants.
The timing is also notable because the 49ers just moved on from him last week.
On December 9, the 49ers announced they released Martinez from the practice squad as part of a set of roster moves that included adding wide receiver Javon Baker.
Now, a little more than a week later, Martinez is back, and the message is pretty simple: the 49ers want a quarterback they already know, already coached, and can plug into the week without a long ramp-up.
For Martinez, the move is also a reminder that NFL careers rarely run in a straight line. Getting cut from the practice squad and returning a few days later is the definition of being allowed to fail, and having the professionalism to bounce back. The 49ers know his system knowledge, his work habits, and his ability to step in for scout-team reps without slowing down the week. For a quarterback fighting for his next opportunity, that trust matters as much as arm talent. If injuries hit or the depth chart shifts, Martinez has shown he can take the call.
What It Means for Brock Purdy, Mac Jones — and the QB Room
This doesn’t mean Brock Purdy is losing his job.
It does mean the 49ers are taking the “no surprises” approach with their quarterback depth as the schedule tightens and the margin for error shrinks.
Per Pro Football Talk, Martinez’s signing gives the team four quarterbacks in the building, with Mac Jones behind Purdy on the 53-man roster and Kurtis Rourke on the reserve/non-football injury list.
Practice-squad QB moves like this often function as an emergency plan: a player who can run the scout team, absorb the weekly game plan, and be available if something unexpected hits the depth chart late in the week.
Why Martinez Keeps Getting Calls
The appeal is that Martinez brings a specific skill set and a lot of experience running an offense.
When the 49ers signed him earlier this season, the team noted Martinez is a 25-year-old Fresno native who played at Nebraska and Kansas State, appearing in 49 college games (47 starts) with significant production as both a passer and runner.
San Francisco also detailed his NFL path: he entered the league with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent, then spent time with the New York Jets’ practice squad.
PFT added that Martinez had a quick stint with the Jets’ practice squad last week before landing back with the 49ers.
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