While the bulk of attention aimed at the San Francisco 49ers' preseason roster has focused on wide receivers (or the lack thereof), the Niners apparently executed a non-wideout transaction on the Thursday prior to their preseason finale against the Los Angeles Chargers.
According to NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco, speaking from practice, recently signed quarterback Nate Sudfeld wasn't on the field.
Instead, per Maiocco, second-year signal-caller Tanner Mordecai was back on the roster.
QB Tanner Mordecai is back on the 49ers’ 90-man roster. Nate Sudfeld is not on the field or the current roster.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 21, 2025
Wait, what?
San Francisco waived Mordecai after a dreadful preseason Week 1 performance against the Denver Broncos in what was essentially a competition with fellow quarterback Carter Bradley for the QB3 role behind Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. Subsequently, with Jones having suffered a minor injury in the following week's exhibition bout against the Las Vegas Raiders, the 49ers brought back Sudfeld to plug the gap for the rest of the preseason.
But now, Sudfeld is on the outs and Mordecai is back in.
Sure, there'll probably be more explanations when the coaching staff speaks to the media in advance of this year's final preseason bout against the Bolts. Given how much a role injuries have already played during the month of August, it wouldn't be shocking to hear how Sudfeld suffered some kind of odd injury after signing.
Like, slipping in the locker room or having a really bad papercut on his throwing hand.
In all seriousness, though, it's an absolutely odd roster move for the Niners to make even if they don't plan on playing Purdy much against L.A. and Jones not at all. San Francisco appeared to be finished with Mordecai, it's 2024 undrafted free-agent pickup out of Wisconsin, and in on Bradley as the developmental QB who'll likely spend this season on the practice squad.
Either way, it'll be nice not to worry much about the extreme back end of the preseason roster and depth chart once Week 1 of the regular season rolls around.