Santa Clara, CA — With Tuesday’s 53-man deadline looming, Carter Bradley’s future sits squarely on the roster bubble. The 49ers are locked with Brock Purdy at QB1 and Mac Jones as the primary backup, while the QB3 path hinges on whether San Francisco carries a third passer now or tries to slide one onto the practice squad. Seventh-round rookie Kurtis Rourke opened camp on the NFI list (knee) and is viewed as a midseason option when healthy. 

In the preseason finale at Levi’s Stadium vs. the Chargers, Bradley wrapped his case with another late-game audition. Across three preseason weeks, ESPN logs him at 199 passing yards, 1 TD, 1 INT — steady work for a first-year QB trying to earn a developmental role in Kyle Shanahan’s room.

For the 49ers, this isn’t just a box-score decision. It’s about September flexibility, balancing special-teams and depth across the 53, and deciding whether to keep only two quarterbacks on the initial roster and stash a passer on the practice squad — a construction several local projections expect. 

Inside the locker room, Bradley chose to speak through attitude — humble but direct:

“THE 49ERS PICKED ME WHEN I HAD NOWHERE TO GO. WEARING RED AND GOLD IS ENOUGH FOR ME. WHATEVER COMES—53 OR PRACTICE SQUAD—I’LL BE IN SAN FRANCISCO, WORKING AND READY. SEE YOU AT LEVI’S STADIUM.”

That message fits the Levi’s ethos: when the team gives you a chance, the rest is work. Whether the next step is making the 53, moving to the practice squad through waivers, or a late twist involving an outside addition, Bradley believes his value lies in mastering the playbook, protecting the football, and being ready the moment his name is called.

The window is closing. NFL teams must be at 53 by 4:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, August 26, with practice squads forming after waivers clear the next morning — a rhythm that could determine where Bradley spends Week 1.