Brock Purdy is listed week-to-week with a turf toe setback; Adrian Martinez joins as QB3. Here’s the latest 49ers QB depth, injury news & outlook.

Brock Purdy Injury – one-line snapshot

When the San Francisco 49ers ruled Brock Purdy out on Thursday Night Football, it wasn’t just a lineup adjustment — it exposed cracks in a quarterback room already under strain. Purdy’s turf toe injury has flared up again, forcing him to miss time, and the 49ers have promoted Adrian Martinez from the practice squad to bolster their depth behind Mac Jones. This article breaks down: what happened to Brock Purdy, the current 49ers QB depth chart, Martinez’s profile, and what the club faces now.

Background: Purdy’s rise, 2025 expectations & early injury timeline

Purdy’s status as franchise QB

Brock Purdy entered 2025 as the established starter in San Francisco, fresh off strong seasons and a long-term contract extension (5 years, $265 million). (Wikipedia) Fans and analysts alike viewed him as the long-term anchor for the 49ers’ offense.

First injury & absence

In the season opener vs. Seattle, Purdy sustained injuries to his toe (turf toe) and reportedly his shoulder. The toe injury in particular drew attention as a nagging, delicate issue — turf toe can be unpredictable, and recurrence is common.

He missed Weeks 2 and 3 while recovering. In his absence, Mac Jones stepped in and performed well under pressure, demonstrating the 49ers’ ability to weather short-term gaps.

Return and setback

Purdy was announced as the starter again heading into Week 4 (vs. Jaguars), showing up in practice with optimism about his health. However, during the game he reportedly aggravated the toe injury further. (Niners Nation)

An MRI confirmed the aggravation. (SFGATE) Following that, Purdy was ruled out for the Week 5 Thursday Night contest against the Rams.

As of the latest reports, he is now considered week-to-week with no firm timetable.

“He’s week to week. Don’t know how it will heal,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. (NFL.com)

This setback complicates the team’s offensive plans and raises questions about how deep the 49ers quarterback room really is.

 

What exactly is a turf toe injury — and why it’s tricky

“Turf toe” is the colloquial name for a sprain of the ligaments around the big toe joint (metatarsophalangeal joint). It often occurs when the toe is forcibly extended upward, as can happen during pushing off to throw, cut, or push off in tight plays. The result is pain, swelling, and reduced push-off strength.

Key reasons it’s tricky:

1. Reinjury risk: Even after initial recovery, the joint remains vulnerable. Slight missteps or awkward movement can flare the injury again.
2. Time vs. function: A player may feel “healed” in rest but still lack full functional stability under game stress.
3. Swelling & stiffness: The toe joint is small and sensitive; swelling or even subtle inflammation can hamper performance.
4. Compensations: Injured players may subconsciously adjust mechanics, which can ripple into other areas (ankle, knee, hip).

In Purdy’s case, the recurrence suggests that either the joint hadn’t fully stabilized or his return timeline was aggressive given the risk.

Current status: Is Brock Purdy playing? What’s his outlook?

Injury designation & status

• Purdy is officially ruled out for the Thursday Night Football game vs. the Rams due to the toe setback.
• He is now considered week-to-week with no clear timeline for return. (NFL.com)
• Reports suggest the aggravation occurred in Week 4 and required MRI confirmation. (SFGATE)
• Earlier, some outlets predicted he could miss Week 6 vs. Buccaneers as well. (nbcsportsbayarea.com)

What’s plausible

Given the nature of the injury and the recurrence, several scenarios are plausible:

• Short absence (1-3 weeks) if his toe responds well to treatment and rest.
• Extended absence if swelling/inflammation persists — the 49ers may prefer caution over rushing him back.
• Intermittent limited play (snap counts, reduced mobility) depending on how his toe recovers under load.

For now, Purdy is not expected to play, and his status remains uncertain for upcoming games.

49ers QB depth chart — Where things stand now

Given Purdy’s absence, here’s how the quarterback room looks:

1. Mac Jones (starting QB in Purdy’s absence)
   Jones has already started in Purdy’s absence and delivered solid performances, including a 342-yard, 2-TD game vs. the Rams in OT. (Reuters) He’s expected to continue leading the offense while Purdy is unavailable.
2. Adrian Martinez (now active roster QB3)
   Promoted to the 53-man roster ahead of the Rams game, Martinez serves as backup behind Jones. (Reuters) Martinez has yet to throw a regular-season snap in the NFL, but brings intrigue due to his UFL success.
3. Tanner Mordecai / emergency options
   The 49ers also have other backend options like Tanner Mordecai, though he’s been shuffled on/off practice squad. (Wikipedia) If Martinez or Jones were unavailable, Mordecai might become the emergency fallback.
4. Odd fallback: Christian McCaffrey listed as emergency QB
   Earlier, Martinez’s backup role was bolstered by McCaffrey being listed as QB2 in postings before this promotion. It was more symbolic/insurance than serious.

So, the current depth (in descending order) is:

• Mac Jones (starter while Purdy is out)
• Adrian Martinez (backup, newly activated)
• Tanner Mordecai / practice-squad or emergency fallback

[Note: Images are collected from Instagram]

 

Adrian Martinez: Who is he, and what to expect?

Background & journey

Adrian Martinez had a varied path before landing in San Francisco:

• Went undrafted in the NFL; had stints with teams (e.g. New York Jets practice squad). (Wikipedia)
• Starred in the United Football League (UFL) with the Birmingham Stallions, earning MVP honors and leading them to a championship.
• Signed to the 49ers’ practice squad in August 2025.
• As of October 2, 2025, the 49ers promoted him to the active roster ahead of the Rams game.

Strengths & challenges

Strengths:

• Mobility and dual-threat capabilities, drawn from his UFL work.
• Poised under pressure in alternative leagues; used to being under the spotlight when given opportunity.
• Familiarity with quarterback depth dynamics (has been in backup / fringe rosters before). (PFSN)

Challenges:

• Zero regular-season NFL snaps so far — game-readiness is untested at this level.
• Must acclimate quickly to Shanahan’s offense, chemistry with receivers, and handling game-speed reads.
• Will likely see limited usage unless further injuries strike.

Expect Martinez to be a short-yardage/relief option, or emergency depth behind Jones. Should Purdy remain out, Martinez would be in line to at least take more reps in practice and possibly draw some snaps.

How is Mac Jones handling QB1 duties?

Mac Jones has already shown resilience and capability stepping into the starting role:

• In the Thursday Night Football win over the Rams, Jones threw for 342 yards, 2 touchdowns. (Reuters)
• He improved the offense’s flow, navigating injuries at receiver and line to lead a clutch OT drive. (San Francisco Chronicle)
• His consistency across prior starts in Purdy’s absence gave the team confidence in his ability to lead short-term. (Niner Noise)

Still, questions remain: can Jones sustain performance over a prolonged period? How will Shanahan adjust play-calling and scheme expectations knowing Purdy’s not behind center? Jones will need to show adaptability, resilience, and leadership if this stint extends.

Impact on offense, receivers & team dynamics

Purdy’s absence doesn’t affect just the QB position — it ripples across the entire offensive unit and team strategy.

Receiver room & injuries

The 49ers already entered the Rams game shorthanded: receivers Ricky Pearsall, Jauan Jennings, and Jordan Watkins were ruled out. (Niners Nation) This significantly strains Jones (or Martinez) in terms of target options and rapport development.

Protection & line play

With backup QBs on deck, the offensive line must be nearly flawless. Pressure, sacks, and mishaps become even more punitive, given the QB’s compromised mobility (for Martinez especially). Coaches will likely dial up quicker reads, shorter patterns, and max-protection packages.

Play-calling adjustments

Expect Shanahan to tweak the offense to support backup QBs: more checkdowns, high-percentage throws, fewer deep risks, and increased use of the run game (especially via Christian McCaffrey) to relieve pressure. Efficiency and error minimization will become key.

Leadership & locker room

Purdy’s absence shifts leadership responsibilities. Jones must lead with clarity; Martinez (if called on) will need to command respect. The coaching staff must also bolster morale and maintain confidence in the offensive identity.

Scenarios ahead: What the 49ers might do next

Let’s map out possible paths, based on how the injury and roster evolve.

Optimistic path: short-term absence

• Purdy returns in 2–3 weeks, fully healed.
• Jones acts as capable placeholder, and Martinez remains a developmental backup.
• The team weathers interim defenses and maintains momentum.

Moderate path: multiple weeks out

• Purdy is sidelined for 4–6 weeks.
• Jones starts consistently; Martinez may see limited action for relief or situational snaps.
• Shanahan leans into conservative, ball-control offense and gradually brings Purdy back in limited form before full return.

Extended absence or lingering issue

• Purdy’s toe becomes a lingering problem.
• Martinez must be groomed more seriously — possibly even mid-game insertions.
• The front office and coaching staff may need contingency evaluation of more durable backups in future windows or trade options.

Impact on long-term roster planning

• The 49ers may reconsider how they stock their QB room: number of backups, experience level, readiness to handle injuries.
• Investment in orthopedics, recovery staff, and protective protocols becomes more critical.
• The performance of Jones and Martinez this season could influence future QB roster decisions.

See more

 

Observations & strategic takeaways

1. Depth matters more than ever
   The Purdy injury underscores how critical a robust QB room is. Teams often underinvest in deep, game-ready backups — this scenario might force reevaluation across the league.
2. Jones’ performance is making a statement
   Mac Jones has looked steadier and confident in his starts, which gives Shanahan more flexibility and may slow Purdy’s hastened return. (Niner Noise)
3. Incremental recovery is better than rushed comeback
   Given turf toe’s risk of reinjury, the 49ers appear to be favoring caution — better to miss more time now than jeopardize long-term health.
4. Martinez is a wild card
   Though untested in regular-season NFL play, his UFL success suggests he might have flashes. But putting a rookie QB with no experience into pressure moments is risky.
5. Offensive scheme adjustments are essential
   Without Purdy’s full range, offensive calls may trend toward shorter, higher-probability plays, more reliance on McCaffrey, and protection-heavy sets.

Closing thoughts

Brock Purdy’s injury saga — particularly the aggravation of a turf toe — has forced the 49ers into a delicate balancing act. The team must protect their quarterback’s long-term health, lean on Mac Jones’ reliability, and integrate Adrian Martinez as a viable backup. The coming weeks will test the franchise’s resilience, coaching adaptability, and depth planning. Whether Purdy returns soon or the team must endure a longer stretch without him, this situation could redefine the 49ers’ offensive identity in 2025.

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: What happened to Brock Purdy?
A: Purdy aggravated a turf toe injury during his Week 4 return, confirmed via MRI, and has been declared out and considered “week-to-week.” (SFGATE)

Q: Is Brock Purdy playing tonight?
A: No — he is ruled out for the Thursday Night Football game vs. the Rams due to the toe setback. (Reuters)

Q: Who is taking over as QB for the 49ers?
A: Mac Jones is the starter in Purdy’s absence. Adrian Martinez has been promoted to backup (QB3) behind him. (Reuters)

Q: What’s the 49ers’ quarterback depth chart now?
A: 1. Mac Jones (starting while Purdy is out)
2. Adrian Martinez (backup on active roster)
3. Tanner Mordecai / emergency options (Wikipedia)

Q: Will Purdy miss more games?
A: It’s possible — reports suggest he could miss Week 6 vs. the Buccaneers, and his status is indefinite beyond that, pending recovery. (nbcsportsbayarea.com)

Q: Who is Adrian Martinez?
A: Martinez is a former UFL MVP, undrafted NFL QB with practice squad stints, now recently promoted to the 49ers’ active roster to back up Mac Jones. (PFSN)

Q: Why is Purdy not playing today?
A: Because of the aggravation of his turf toe, which required further rest and medical evaluation. (SFGATE)