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49ers Elevate QB Hidden Gem to Active Roster After Seahawks Offer to Steal Him

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San Francisco, CA – October 5, 2025
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The Seattle Seahawks’ desperate search for a Sam Darnold replacement nearly landed them a young quarterback from across the division. But the San Francisco 49ers weren’t about to let him slip away.

According to multiple reports, the Seahawks expressed interest in signing Adrian Martinez off San Francisco’s practice squad after Sam’s shoulder injury created an urgent depth problem. By league rules, Martinez could have been added directly to Seattle’s 53-man roster if he accepted the offer.

Instead, the 49ers responded decisively — elevating Martinez to their own active roster on Monday. The move protects the 25-year-old and ensures he’ll remain in San Francisco for at least three weeks as he now secures a full roster spot.

Martinez’s path has been anything but ordinary. Undrafted out of Kansas State in 2023, he briefly spent time with the Detroit Lions before resurfacing in the USFL, where he showcased his dual-threat ability and earned another NFL opportunity. San Francisco signed him to a reserve/futures deal in January 2025, betting on his mobility and upside as a developmental quarterback.

In the 2025 preseason, Martinez drew praise from 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan for his calm presence and playmaking flashes, including a 48-yard scramble against Denver. Still, he was cut from the 53-man roster on August 27. Two days later, he cleared waivers and chose to sign with the 49ers’ practice squad rather than explore other offers — citing the chance to learn under Shanahan’s system and develop behind Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. He has since trained closely with the quarterback group while wearing jersey No.4.

Now, with the Seahawks circling, the 49ers made the call to keep him in-house. For Martinez, it’s a chance to prove himself on the active roster; for the 49ers, it’s about protecting a hidden gem and preventing a hated NFC West rival from poaching him at a moment of weakness.

Raiders Reunite with a Former Starter to Fortify the Offensive Line
Las Vegas, NV   The Las Vegas Raiders have brought back a familiar face in a move that screams both urgency and savvy: versatile offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor is returning to the Silver & Black on a one-year deal (terms not disclosed), reuniting with the franchise where he logged some of the best football of his career and immediately fortifying a position group that has been stretched thin. Eluemunor, 31, started for the Raiders from 2021–2023, showing rare position flexibility across right tackle and guard while anchoring pass protection against premier edge rushers. His technique, anchor, and ability to handle long-arm power made him a steadying force during multiple playoff pushes. After departing Vegas, Eluemunor spent time elsewhere refining his craft, but a confluence of roster needs and scheme familiarity has set the stage for a timely homecoming. For the Raiders—fighting to keep pace in a rugged AFC—this is about stability and fit. Injuries and week-to-week availability on the right side of the line have forced constant shuffling; protection packages have leaned heavily on chips and condensed splits to survive obvious passing downs. Eluemunor’s return allows the staff to plug him at RT or slide him inside at RG, restoring balance to protections and widening the run-game menu (duo, inside zone, and the toss/ pin-pull that Vegas fans love when the edge is sealed). “Jermaine knows who we are and how we want to play,” a team source said. “He brings ballast. Assignment sound, physical, and smart—he raises the floor for the entire unit.” Beyond the X’s and O’s, there’s an unmistakable emotional charge to this reunion. Eluemunor was a locker-room favorite in his previous stint—professional, detail-driven, and accountable. The belief internally is that his presence stabilizes communication on the right side (IDs, slides, and pass-off rules vs. games and simulated pressures), which in turn unlocks more vertical concepts and keeps the quarterback cleaner late in games. On social media, Raider Nation lit up the timeline with a simple refrain: “Welcome back, Jem.” Many fans called the deal the exact kind of “rival-poach, ready-to-play” move a contender makes in October: low friction, high impact, zero learning curve. What it means on the field (immediately): Pass pro: Fewer emergency chips, more five-out releases—OC can re-open deeper intermediate shots without living in max-protect. Run game: Better edge control on toss/duo; more confidence running to the right on money downs. Depth & versatility: One injury doesn’t force a cascade of position changes; Eluemunor can cover two spots with starting-level competency. The timetable? Swift. Because Eluemunor already speaks the language—terminology, splits, cadence rules—he could suit up as early as this weekend if the medicals/check-ins continue to trend positive. The message is clear: the Raiders aren’t waiting around for the line to gel—they’re engineering it. If Jermaine Eluemunor plays to his Raider résumé, this reunion could be the precise mid-season jolt that steadies the offense and keeps the Silver & Black firmly in the postseason race. Raider Nation, the question writes itself: Plug-and-play stopgap—or the catalyst that reclaims the right side