The San Francisco 49ers have been grappling with injury woes ever since this year’s training camp kicked off, not a promising sign as the team looks toward the 2026 season with hopes for better health.
During Thursday’s preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans, the 49ers faced a setback as they saw two players leave the field due to injuries. The game started off on a challenging note when, on the first drive, cornerback Jack Jones suffered a hand injury that forced him out of the game.
Another concern arose with third-string quarterback Kurtis Rourke, whose health scare necessitated a trip to the hospital. However, reassuring news came from team officials, who informed reporter Cam Inman that Rourke was released from the hospital later that evening.
Rourke had been dealing with shortness of breath, prompting further imaging exams when the stadium’s X-ray machine didn’t indicate any fractures.
The exact moment he suffered the rib injury remains unclear, but speculation suggests it may have occurred during a hit on a run near the 1-yard line. After completing three series, Rourke was substituted with Adrian Martinez midway through the second quarter.
Martinez was the only quarterback in uniform after Rourke’s departure, since neither Brock Purdy or Mac Jones had suited up Thursday.
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Rourke shined in his preseason debut, completing 12-of-14 passes for 100 yards and showed off his mobility as a signal-caller. He missed all of the 2025 season as he recovered from ACL surgery.
The 49ers selected Rourke with the 227th overall pick in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Had Martinez also gone down with an injury, the 49ers would have been forced to turn to tight end Brayden Willis.
The team had prepped Willis for emergency duty, which would have included solely handoffs.
The injury woes in San Francisco have been unrelenting thus far with the regular season less than a month away.