49ers Work Out 3 QBs Amid Injury Issues, Including 18-Game Starter
Desmond Ridder worked out for the 49ers this week.
When an NFL team brings in three quarterbacks for workouts in October, it’s usually not a good thing, but that’s exactly where the San Francisco 49ers find themselves heading into Week 6.
With Brock Purdy sidelined by a nagging toe injury and Mac Jones nursing multiple ailments of his own, the Niners are understandably looking around at who else is available.
With Purdy out and a banged-up Jones leading the 4-1 Niners into a huge showdown with the also 4-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend, Adrian Martinez will be the 49ers backup once again. Martinez has never played in an NFL game, and it’s clear Kyle Shanahan and company still aren’t sure what they have in him.
“This week, Shanahan said Martinez took more reps with the first team, so the team had the chance to evaluate him running the offense as opposed to running scout team cards, where the cards tell you who to throw the ball to before you leave the huddle,” Niners Nation’s Kyle Posey wrote, adding:
“Shanahan said, to a degree, he has a package of plays in his head about what he’d potentially have to run for Martinez. And a better feeling about Martinez than he had in the past few weeks. Coincidentally, after seeing Martinez practice for a week, the 49ers worked out three quarterbacks.”
San Francisco 49ers Bring QBs Desmond Ridder, Nathan Peterman & Quinten Dormady in for Workouts
GettyDesmond Ridder was one of three QBs the San Francisco 49ers worked out this week.
As reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on October 10, the 49ers brought quarterbacks Desmond Ridder, Nathan Peterman and Quinten Dormady in for workouts, but didn’t sign any of the three. While that means Martinez will be QB2 once again vs. the Bucs, it doesn’t mean San Francisco won’t sign any of them in the near future.
Ridder is the most intriguing of the group. The 26-year-old has played in 25 games, starting 18. A third-round pick for the Atlanta Falcons in 2022, he has completed 63.6% of his passes for 4,002 yards, 16 touchdowns and 14 picks.
He’s bounced around this year (Cincinnati, then Minnesota), but Ridder has mobility, and far more experience than Martinez. If San Francisco wants someone who could run a functional offense on short notice, Ridder’s the most obvious candidate of the three.
Peterman is kind of the “break-glass-in-case-of-emergency” option for the 49ers. He’s functional, technically, although watching him is always a white-knuckling adventure.
Over seven seasons, Peterman has appeared in 15 games, with five starts. He has 712 yards, four touchdowns and 13 interceptions in that span. The numbers aren’t pretty, but he’s experienced enough to be somewhat useful if things spiral further.
Then, there’s Quinten Dormady. He’s never been on an active NFL roster, but he’s piled up decent numbers in spring leagues: 1,507 yards, 10 touchdowns and five picks in the XFL, followed by 1,206 yards and six scores in the UFL. He’s more of a developmental piece than anything else, but as a practice squad arm or third-stringer, he’s worth a look.
49ers Injuries to Brock Purdy & Mac Jones Could Force San Francisco’s Hand
Purdy’s turf toe has cost him three of the last four games and kept him off the practice field again this week. He’s not on injured reserve, which is likely a sign the team thinks he’ll be back soon, but he’s also not playing this week. It remains to be seen whether the tow issue continues to linger, but if it does, the Niners could be in trouble.
Jones, meanwhile, has been holding things together, but just barely. He’s dealing with a lingering knee injury he got Week 3, and now an oblique strain from the Niners’ Week 5 overtime win over the Rams. Jones will be under center again Week 6, but if he suffers any type of setback, the 49ers could give Ridder, Peterman, Dormady — or someone else entirely — another call.
The Yankees should stay far away from next star Japanese free agent
It’s no secret that the New York Yankees are usually at the center of conversations when top Japanese stars become available. From Shohei Ohtani to Yoshinobu Yamamoto, their name always seems to pop up, even if those pursuits often end with the player landing elsewhere. This winter, the latest name drawing attention is Munetaka Murakami, a left-handed power bat from Japan who could make the jump to the majors.
The interest makes sense on the surface. Murakami’s offensive production in Japan is impossible to ignore, but the Yankees’ current roster construction — and his defensive limitations — suggest this might be one of those times when they sit out the sweepstakes.
Murakami’s profile is built on power
Murakami, 25, spent this past season splitting time between the Yakult Swallows’ Central League and Eastern League teams. In 69 total games, he hit .286 with a .392 on-base percentage and a .659 slugging rate. His 24 home runs and 1.051 OPS highlight the kind of game-changing pop that made him one of Japan’s premier hitters.
He’s a pure power threat who can change the score with one swing, but he also strikes out often — a concern for any team evaluating how his approach might translate against major league pitching. History shows that even Japan’s best hitters need time to adjust to MLB velocity and breaking pitches, and Murakami’s aggressive style might magnify that challenge early on.
Defensively, Murakami’s profile is less convincing. He played 63 games at third base this past season, though most evaluators view him as an average, if not below-average, fielder. That’s where the Yankees’ fit issues begin to surface.
The Yankees already have their left-handed corner infield bat
The Yankees addressed third base at the trade deadline when they acquired Ryan McMahon, who not only hits left-handed but also brings Gold Glove-level defense. McMahon’s arrival effectively closed the door on any future investment in a player like Murakami, who would offer similar offensive upside without the same reliability in the field.
In addition, first baseman Ben Rice has emerged as a legitimate offensive contributor and appears to be part of the Yankees’ long-term plans at first base. Rice hit .255 with 26 home runs this season, providing both power and flexibility at first base and designated hitter. With Giancarlo Stanton still occupying the DH role, there isn’t a clear path for Murakami to fit into the lineup without a major roster shake-up.
A familiar story for the Yankees
There’s also the matter of preference. Murakami has previously expressed interest in playing on the West Coast, where the transition from Japan is often more comfortable due to geography and culture. Still, he has reportedly shown some intrigue in the Yankees, who continue to carry international cachet among top Japanese players.
That said, the Dodgers, Giants, Phillies, and Mets are all expected to be far more aggressive suitors. The Yankees’ history with these types of pursuits tells its own story — they usually show interest but rarely close the deal.
Timing and roster fit work against a potential move
If the Yankees had a true opening at DH, this might be a different conversation. Murakami’s bat-first profile could fit beautifully into Yankee Stadium, where his pull-heavy swing would thrive against the short right-field porch. But with Stanton still under contract and McMahon and Rice firmly in place, it’s hard to justify another left-handed corner bat.
Murakami’s talent is undeniable, and he’ll almost certainly make an impact wherever he lands. But for a Yankees team trying to balance their roster while managing payroll and positional depth, this is one Japanese star who looks destined to shine somewhere else.
