T
he San Francisco 49ers are rolling to start to the 2025 season with a 7-4 record. Getting back a handful of players ahead of their week 11 contest against the Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers’ offense is finally healthy ahead of the team’s impending playoff push. Missing the postseason last year for the first time since 2020, the 49ers are hungrier than ever to return to the playoffs and get back to the Super Bowl.
But a major storyline this season has been the absence of starting quarterback, Brock Purdy. Sustaining a toe injury in week one, Purdy missed a handful of games as he recovered, making way for backup Mac Jones to take the reins. And with Purdy out, the 49ers signed Adrian Martinez to be Jones’ backup. Now that Purdy is back however, Martinez was released. But on Monday, Nov. 17, NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the 49ers were signing Martinez back to the practice squad.
Rapoport’s Report
Entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023, Martinez started his career on the Detroit Lions‘ practice squad before joining the UFL the following spring. After a good spring with the Birmingham Stallions– winning UFL MVP, the UFL title, and making the All-UFL team, Martinez signed with the Jets in 2024 and spent the entire season bouncing between the active roster and the practice squad. Released ahead of the regular season, Martinez quickly signed with the 49ers’ practice squad to serve as the emergency third quarterback behind Purdy and Jones. When Purdy went down, Martinez got promoted to the active roster, where he remained until Purdy came back prior to week 11.
Released on Nov. 15, the 49ers quickly signed him back, needing an emergency quarterback in case they dealt with another injury. And while Martinez has only played in one game in his short NFL career, he has proven his worth and earned the chance to continue on in San Francisco.
“49ers QB Adrian Martinez cleared waivers today and is expected to land back with the SF practice squad, source said. He served as the backup while Brock Purdy was hurt,” Rapoport said .
Martinez’s Career Thus Far
Prior to his NFL career, Martinez played four seasons of college football at Nebraska before spending his final college season in 2022 at Kansas State. At Nebraska, Martinez was the primary starter in 2018, 2019 and 2021, putting together his best season in 2018 when he threw for 2,617 yards, 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions– despite the Cornhuskers going 4-7. At Kansas State, Martinez started nine games, throwing for 1,261 yards, six touchdowns and one interception.
Martinez may not be a big name player, but given how he fared as a backup and as a starter in the UFL, he could have a very long career as backup quarterback in the league.
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