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Kyle Shanahan Declines Third-Quarterback Designation for 49ers’ Wild Card Game

He says sacrificing an active player for an emergency QB is not worth it.

Overview

  • Shanahan dismissed adding a game-day third quarterback, citing the low probability of losing two QBs in one game and the cost of playing short a position player.
  • The NFL’s emergency QB rule does not create an extra active roster spot, which Shanahan said makes the option unattractive unless a quarterback is already injured.
  • San Francisco has two quarterbacks on the 53-man roster—Brock Purdy and Mac Jones—so the team cannot designate an emergency third QB without adding another to the roster.
  • The provision was adopted after the 2023 NFC Championship, when the 49ers lost Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson to injuries in the same game.
  • Adrian Martinez is on the 49ers’ practice squad as additional depth, while Purdy and Jones are reported healthy ahead of the matchup with the Eagles.