Why Kyle Shanahan Feels ‘better' About 49ers Backup Qb Adrian Martinez This Week

Why Kyle Shanahan feels ‘better' about 49ers backup QB Adrian Martinez this week originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

SANTA CLARA – With the two quarterbacks ahead of him on the 49ers’ roster nursing injuries, one could expect that Adrian Martinez would have to accelerate the process of learning San Francisco’s offense.

That would be an incorrect assumption.

Martinez, who was signed to San Francisco’s practice squad in August before being elevated to the active 53-man roster during Brock Purdy’s extended absence, has been in that mode ever since arriving in town.

“Since day one I’ve accelerated that process,” Martinez told reporters Friday while the 49ers prepared for their cross-country flight to Tampa Bay. “There’s an urgency there that has been a part of it.”

That’s a good thing because the 25-year-old quarterback is closer than he has ever been to playing in an NFL game.

The 49ers’ quarterback room looks a lot like a M*A*S*H* outfit. Brock Purdy will miss his fourth game of the 2025 NFL season due to a toe injury. Mac Jones has been fantastic filling in for Purdy but has his own health issues (knee/oblique).

One mishap or missed block could be all it takes to get Martinez his first taste of live action in the NFL.

“To a degree this week has been nice to him,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “He has got a lot more reps with the (starters) this week just filling in for Mac so we’ve been able to see him on tape more. Kind of a better feeling this week than I have in the past few weeks.

“You always try to keep it as simple as you can for guys in that situation. Give them certain things, he tells you things he’s the most comfortable with and then you try to isolate on that stuff. When you get into a game it’s about the situation so try to make it as easy as possible.”

While he doesn’t have any experience playing in the NFL, Martinez has played in his fair share of meaningful games.

He played at Nebraska and Kansas State in college before latching on with the United Football League and earning MVP honors while guiding the Birmingham Stallions to the title.

It was a stepping stone that Martinez feels was instrumental in getting him to the NFL.

“I love the UFL,” he said. “I think it’s a league that’s necessary and that gave me an opportunity to bounce back. When people ask me about it I call it professional JuCo (junior college) but it really is. There’s first-round picks, third-round picks, undrafted guys like myself.

“The UFL gave me an opportunity to play 12 games and show what I can do and show that I’m an NFL guy.”

That opportunity got Martinez’s foot in the door. The injuries to Purdy and Jones may open the door even wider and give the rookie a chance to make his NFL debut.

That’s not something 49er fans would prefer, but if it happens they can at least take solace in knowing that his foot has been on the gas pedal since he arrived in town.

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