“Exciting” to Have Josh Rosen on Board, Says 49ers Head Coach Kyle Shanahan

With the injury bug hitting the San Francisco 49ers quarterback camp, the team has brought in former Cardinals QB Josh Rosen. With starter Jimmy Garoppolo and backup Nick Mullens both nursing injuries, the 49ers expected to start 3rd-stringer C. J. Beathard in the upcoming gameweek. 

Rosen, who was in the Buccaneers training squad, made the move after apparently rejecting multiple other advances. For 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, the opportunity to work with the 2018 first-round draft pick is an “exciting” prospect.

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A calculated gamble for the 49ers 

With the 49ers out of the playoff hunt, the side has room to experiment. With their regular starter and backup unlikely to return anytime soon, the team opted to bring in Rosen. 

“For Josh to be willing to come here, especially leaving a place that he was in, with a team that’s most likely going to the playoffs and maybe can do some stuff after, that was exciting for us,” Shanahan said on KNBR. 

“And to also know that we got a guy in here who did get drafted in the first round, who’s got some ability with his arm, it was exciting… We were going to get someone, and we need that body. And to get someone with his ability was pretty cool,” he added.

To bring in Rosen, who has had 2 not-so-great stints in the NFL, is a calculated gamble. With Mullens and Beathard set to be free agents come 2021, the stage is set for Rosen to stake his claim as the 49ers backup QB for 2021. 

A third go at the NFL for Josh Rosen

Rosen was drafted by the Arizona Cardinals as the 10th overall pick in the 2018 draft. But in his inaugural season in the NFL, Rosen went 3-10, throwing more interceptions than touchdowns. 

The Cardinals soon moved on from Rosen by drafting Kyler Murray in 2019. Rosen was then traded to the Miami Dolphins for the 2019 season.

Even at Miami, he struggled to find any sort of form. Rosen was then released by the Dolphins in 2020 and snapped up by the Buccaneers for their practice squad. 

This will be Rosen’s third shot at establishing himself in the league. And the former UCLA QB will be hopeful that the third time’s the charm. 

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