49ers trim Adrian Martinez after Kurtis Rourke earns No. 3 quarterback spot

What the 49ers settled on is straightforward. San Francisco has cut Adrian Martinez, and it appears Kurtis Rourke has done enough to secure the team’s No. 3 quarterback role heading into the regular season. The decision reflects how NFL teams use the preseason not only to evaluate arm talent, but also to see who can handle the full week-to-week pace of practice and the demands of the third-QB job in the game-day rhythm.

The key storyline leading into the final roster call involves availability. According to Yahoo Sports, Rourke did not appear in the team’s final two preseason games because of fractured ribs. That kind of absence typically compresses a player’s opportunities to separate himself, particularly at quarterback where coaches prefer to see timing, protection reads, and situational decision-making across multiple drives.

Even with that limitation, the 49ers “saw enough” of Rourke in earlier preseason work to keep him. Put differently, Rourke’s evaluation seems to have carried past the last two-game window, suggesting that the coaching staff felt his preseason reps and practice performance provided enough separation for the No. 3 role, despite the injury-related missed time.

Martinez’s roster fate is the corresponding outcome. Yahoo’s report frames the move as a byproduct of the No. 3 quarterback race being decided internally. For Martinez, the cut means he will look for a new opportunity elsewhere rather than remaining on the depth chart behind the starters and primary backups.

This is also a reminder that the No. 3 quarterback position is often about readiness rather than volume. In most games, the third quarterback may not play, but the player has to be prepared to execute game plans instantly, understand protections and route adjustments, and be capable of stepping in if circumstances force an emergency change. Teams weigh whether a quarterback can absorb the offense quickly while also fitting the practice structure across the week.

For the 49ers, the next questions are practical. Rourke’s fractured ribs will be something the team and coaches will need to manage carefully as the season approaches, especially since quarterback health and mobility can affect both practice volume and timing with the rest of the offense. Coaches will also continue to monitor whether depth behind the No. 3 spot reshapes the swing quarterback responsibilities for the rest of the roster period.

Beyond San Francisco, moves like this illustrate how NFL roster math tightens as the league transitions from preseason evaluation to regular-season planning. Quarterbacks are evaluated on more than highlight throws. The 49ers’ decision suggests that, even with limited late preseason action, Rourke presented the traits the staff wanted at the No. 3 spot, while Martinez did not clear the final threshold.