San Francisco 49ers quarterback Kurtis Rourke was taken to the hospital Thursday night after suffering a rib injury during the team's preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans. Rourke, making his first appearance in nearly two years after recovering from knee surgery, left the game with breathing difficulties.
Before his departure, Rourke had a strong showing in his professional debut. He completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards and led the team on a drive that resulted in a touchdown run by Patrick Taylor Jr. This performance marked his return to the field for the first time since Dec. 20, 2024.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan stated that X-rays on Rourke's ribs were negative and that the decision to hospitalize him was precautionary. "They said ribs, he was struggling to breathe so they took him to the hospital just to check on him and make sure he’s alright," Shanahan said. "X-rays in here didn’t show it was broken." Shanahan indicated that the team was not overly concerned about the injury being long-term, pending further imaging.
Rourke, a seventh-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, spent last season on the 49ers' roster behind quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Mac Jones. His college career at Ohio and Indiana was notable, including playing his final season with a torn ACL. He completed a career-high 69.4% of his passes and threw 29 touchdowns in his final college season, with only five interceptions.
