Aside from an opening drive from Mac Jones that resulted in a touchdown, the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback play in the exhibition opener against the Denver Broncos last Saturday left plenty to be desired.
If anything, it might have just completely mandated some grand-sweeping changes.
Granted, we're talking about a QB3 job here behind Jones and Brock Purdy, so the importance of this heading into the regular season is relative, to be sure.
But, for second-year pro Tanner Mordecai, what happened against Denver potentially has serious ramifications on his NFL career.
Putting it bluntly, Mordecai wasn't good. Despite having a year-plus in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, albeit on the practice squad during his rookie 2024 season, the former undrafted free-agent pickup out of Wisconsin nevertheless struggled when asked to go up against the Broncos' third- and fourth-string unit late Saturday evening, going 3-of-6 for 21 yards with an interception, all for a passer rating of just 18.8.
With the recently added Carter Bradley getting the bulk of snaps for the Niners under center, Mordecai was merely asked to respond to the competition.
On Monday after the game, news broke of San Francisco waiving Mordecai (now for the second time) in order to make room for running back Jeff Wilson Jr. off the free-agent list and to activate offensive tackle Andre Dillard.
The 49ers also placed running back Ameer Abdullah (ribs) on season-ending injured reserve.
The 49ers activated OL Andre Dillard off the PUP list. They signed DL Trevis Gipson and RB Jeff Wilson Jr. and placed RB Ameer Abdullah on injured reserve and waived QB Tanner Mordecai.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) August 11, 2025
Tanner Mordecai's preseason flop may have cost him his NFL career
Mordecai found himself waived once already during training camp to make room for Bradley, who despite only being on the team for mere days, already seems to have more trust from head coach Kyle Shanahan at this point.
At this point, one might assume the second-year signal-caller did little to improve his stock value to the 31 other teams across the league who may need quarterbacking depth.
Plus, with the Niners redshirting their seventh-round rookie QB, Kurtis Rourke (knee), it isn't as if Mordecai will be viewed as a developmental piece who can stick around with the hope of landing a prominent job in a year or two's time.
San Francisco might explore the free-agent market still to bolster its quarterback room, especially with two more preseason games left to play.
In hindsight now, though, it doesn't appear as if Mordecai will be part of that discussion.
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