The San Francisco 49ers created some quarterback controversy on Monday with the news that ex-Niner Nate Sudfeld got a tryout. Is the much-awaited competition between Sudfeld and Carter Bradley for the third string spot approaching?
A reunion between Sudfeld and San Francisco would not be impossible. The Santa Clara native was with the Niners back in 2021 and 2022. He never appeared in a regular-season game with the 49ers, but he lost out to Brock Purdy for the third-string role in 2022, which turned out to be a pretty important development for the franchise.
Sudfeld spent some time with the Detroit Lions the last few seasons but has pretty much been a perennial backup and practice squad guy for most of his career. In his limited NFL regular-season action, Sudfeld has completed 25 of 37 passes with one touchdown and one interception.
The Niners are clearly set with Purdy as their starter and Mac Jones as the backup going into this season.
However, the third-string spot is much less settled.
Carter Bradley and Tanner Mordecai figured to be the ones competing for the role, but they both had a rough go of it in San Francisco's first preseason game against the Denver Broncos.
Mordecai was released after that game, and Bradley was seen as the primary candidate for the third-string role and had a much better showing in last Saturday's game against the Las Vegas Raiders. Bradley completed eight of his 13 pass attempts in the game for 96 yards.
The would-be addition of Sudfeld, however, could either be a sign the 49ers want some more competition for that emergency quarterback role, or it could be a signal they don't plan on playing Purdy in the final preseason game against the Los Angeles Chargers and they want another QB who can play in the game.
Either way, Bradley now knows he could have a little more competition for that No. 3 spot on the depth chart despite his respectable showing against Vegas.
Nothing screams preseason football like a quarterback controversy for the third-string spot, so let's hope the Niners do sign Sudfeld just to create some melodrama for the final preseason game.
Editor's update: PerThe Athletic's Matt Barrows, the 49ers are signing Sudfeld in advance of their third and final preseason game.
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