49ers waiving Josh Rosen, per report, ensuring Nate Sudfeld stays

In a move that shouldn’t surprise anyone, the 49ers are reportedly waiving backup quarterback Josh Rosen, who was on the fringes anyway.

There was an outside scenario the San Francisco 49ers could somehow make a former first-round quarterback, Josh Rosen, the No. 2 signal-caller on the depth chart in 2021.

Granted, that was predicated on rookie quarterback Trey Lance seizing the starting job out of training camp and then the veteran, Jimmy Garoppolo, being moved before Week 1.

At any rate, that won’t happen any longer.

Rosen, who was picked up off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad as an emergency option late last season and subsequently signed a one-year deal to stay with the Niners, is going to be waived, according to a Tuesday report from NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo:

Rosen, the No. 10 overall pick out of UCLA in the 2018 NFL Draft, was jettisoned by the team that selected him, the Arizona Cardinals, a year later in a trade to the Miami Dolphins, who parted ways with him after another season.

Rosen then stuck on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ practice squad in 2020 before being signed off of it by San Francisco late last year after losing both Garoppolo and now-Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Mullens to injuries.

Perhaps Rosen’s next team will wind up being his “forever home.”

Interestingly enough, Rosen saw the bulk of the action in the 49ers’ preseason opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 14, going 10-of-15 for 93 yards, zero touchdowns and an interception in relief of both Garoppolo and Lance.

After the game, Rosen was asked about the situation he was currently in, and the quarterback pointed out he wasn’t receiving many reps during training camp.

Neither was his primary competitor, quarterback Nate Sudfeld, who now figures to be the locked-in No. 3 quarterback behind Garoppolo and Lance.

49ers waiving Josh Rosen is a win for Nate Sudfeld

Sudfeld, who spent the last three seasons with the Eagles and worked under current Niners quarterbacks coach Rich Scangarello there, inked a one-year deal with San Francisco during the offseason that included $252,000 in guaranteed money.

While that’s not overly substantial when looking at a player like Garoppolo’s contract, it is notable enough for a third-string quarterback.

Rosen, who had zero in guarantees for his return deal, seemed to be on the outside. And Tuesday’s report all but confirms the 49ers were paying closer attention to Sudfeld, both in terms of his prior relationship with Scangarello and certainly in light of his guarantees.

There’s still an open chance the Niners part ways with Sudfeld, who didn’t see the field last Saturday against Kansas City. Yet considering head coach Kyle Shanahan has kept three quarterbacks on the roster since 2018, and has needed all three both that season and last year, one might figure Sudfeld’s job is safe.

Even though most NFL teams elect to keep two, not three signal-callers on an active 53-man roster.

As for Rosen?

Well, one can only hope the former first-round pick latches on somewhere and in a context where he can revitalize his otherwise flamed-out pro career.