Kurtis Rourke: 49ers | Stats | Injury | Rookie Card | What Happened To

Kurtis Rourke entered the NFL as a seventh-round quarterback with an intriguing college résumé and plenty to prove. The San Francisco 49ers selected him with the 227th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping his size, arm talent and experience could develop into valuable quarterback depth.

Rourke’s NFL journey has been unusual. A knee injury kept him from appearing in his rookie season, meaning his first NFL game action did not arrive until the 2026 preseason. Unfortunately, that long-awaited debut ended early when he suffered a rib injury against the Tennessee Titans.

Here is everything to know about Kurtis Rourke, including his 49ers status, stats, injury history, rookie cards and what happened to him.

Kurtis Rourke and the 49ers

The 49ers selected Rourke in Round 7 of the 2025 NFL Draft. San Francisco used the No. 227 pick on the Indiana quarterback after he had built an impressive college career at Ohio and Indiana.

The 49ers highlighted his production when announcing the selection. Across 48 college games and 46 starts, Rourke accumulated 10,692 passing yards, 79 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns according to the team’s draft profile.

Rourke was particularly productive during his 2024 season at Indiana. He threw for 3,042 yards and 29 touchdowns, helping the Hoosiers reach an 11-2 record and the College Football Playoff.

The NFL profile lists Rourke as a 6-foot-4, 221-pound quarterback wearing No. 14 for San Francisco.

Kurtis Rourke Stats

Rourke’s NFL regular-season statistics were essentially nonexistent heading into the 2026 preseason because he did not play during his rookie season.

That changed against Tennessee.

In the 49ers’ 2026 preseason opener, Rourke completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards before leaving the game with a rib injury. He also rushed three times for 14 yards.

His 12-for-14 passing line represented an impressive 85.7% completion rate. More importantly, Rourke looked comfortable operating the offense before the injury interrupted his night.

Kurtis Rourke NFL stats

These numbers came from Rourke’s first NFL game action after a lengthy absence. NFL.com’s player database continues to list him as an active 49ers quarterback.

What Happened to Kurtis Rourke?

The biggest recent question surrounding Rourke is, what happened to Kurtis Rourke?

Rourke made his long-awaited NFL debut against the Titans, but his appearance ended in the second quarter.

During a quarterback run, Rourke was hit by two defenders. He subsequently experienced breathing difficulties and was removed from the game. The 49ers sent him to a hospital for additional evaluation after initial X-rays at the stadium did not show a broken rib.

The initial diagnosis was a rib injury.

At the time of the latest reports, the 49ers had not announced a definitive long-term timetable for his return. Therefore, it would be premature to describe the injury as season-ending or assume that Rourke will miss an extended period.

The situation is particularly frustrating because Rourke had waited 601 days for NFL game action.

Kurtis Rourke Injury History

Injuries have been a major part of Rourke’s football story.

He played his final college season at Indiana with a significant knee issue. After the season, further examination revealed that he had suffered a torn ACL in his right knee. He underwent surgery in January and subsequently missed his entire 2025 rookie season while recovering.

The 49ers placed him on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List before the 2025 season. The team’s initial roster announcement specifically identified his knee injury as the reason he remained on the list.

His college career also included other injuries. Rourke previously suffered an ACL tear in the same knee in 2022. He also had thumb surgery in 2024 and missed time because of a shoulder injury earlier in his college career.

That history makes his latest rib injury something the 49ers will naturally monitor carefully.

Why Did Kurtis Rourke Miss the 2025 Season?

Rourke did not miss the 2025 season because the 49ers had simply decided not to play him.

Instead, he was recovering from the knee injury he suffered during his final season at Indiana.

The injury required surgery, and San Francisco kept him on the Reserve/Non-Football Injury List. By the end of the year, the team began working toward getting him back onto the practice field.

NFL injury records also show Rourke listed with a knee issue late in the 2025 season.

As a result, Rourke entered 2026 without having played a professional game.

Rourke’s 2026 49ers Role

Rourke entered the 2026 season as part of a crowded San Francisco quarterback room.

Brock Purdy remained the team’s established starter, while Mac Jones provided veteran backup experience. Rourke was viewed as an intriguing developmental option.

That makes preseason opportunities especially important for him.

Rourke needed game repetitions to demonstrate that he could handle the speed and pressure of the NFL. His opening performance against Tennessee was encouraging before the rib injury ended his night.

His strong completion percentage also showed why the 49ers have remained interested in developing him.

Kurtis Rourke Rookie Card

Because Rourke was drafted in 2025, collectors can find his rookie cards across several football-card products.

One notable option is the 2025 Panini Score Kurtis Rourke rookie card, listed as card No. 82.

Another is the 2025 Panini Prizm Kurtis Rourke rookie card, card No. 397. The product also includes numerous parallels, giving collectors different versions to chase.

Rourke also appears in the 2025 Panini Phoenix set as card No. 199.

For collectors interested in autographs, Rourke has cards in products including Panini Black, Panini Prizm Draft Picks and National Treasures Collegiate. Beckett’s listings show several limited autograph and memorabilia versions.

Is Kurtis Rourke’s rookie card valuable?

The value varies significantly depending on the card, parallel, autograph, serial numbering, condition and grading.

For example, recent market tracking has shown considerable differences between Rourke’s base cards and scarce parallels. One recent sale for a 2025 Panini Prizm Navy Camo rookie was reported at $65, while many standard cards have sold for only a few dollars.

Collectors should therefore avoid assuming that every Rourke rookie card has significant value.

His long-term card market will likely depend heavily on whether he eventually earns a meaningful role in the 49ers offense.

Kurtis Rourke College Career

Before joining the NFL, Rourke spent most of his college career at Ohio before transferring to Indiana.

He established himself as one of the MAC’s best quarterbacks at Ohio. In 2022, he won MAC Offensive Player of the Year after throwing for 3,257 yards, 25 touchdowns and only four interceptions, according to the 49ers’ draft profile.

His move to Indiana gave him the opportunity to compete at the Big Ten level.

Rourke responded with an excellent 2024 season, throwing 29 touchdown passes and completing 69.4% of his passes. Indiana finished 11-2 and earned a place in the College Football Playoff.

That combination of experience and production helped Rourke attract NFL interest despite his injury history.

Can Kurtis Rourke Become the 49ers’ Backup?

Rourke’s future in San Francisco remains interesting.

The 49ers already have established options ahead of him, but Rourke offers something valuable: a young quarterback with starting experience, physical size and a strong college résumé.

His biggest challenge is staying healthy and continuing to learn the offense.

The 49ers have shown that they value developing quarterbacks, and Rourke’s seventh-round draft status means the team has relatively little financial risk invested in him.

His preseason performance against Tennessee demonstrated that he can operate efficiently when given an opportunity. However, the latest rib injury creates another interruption at an unfortunate time.

What Is Next for Kurtis Rourke?

The immediate priority is determining the severity of Rourke’s rib injury.

The initial X-rays did not reveal a fracture, but further medical evaluation was necessary after he experienced breathing problems.

If the injury proves minor, Rourke could resume competing for preseason repetitions once cleared.

If he misses significant time, however, the setback could be costly because he needs as many live-game opportunities as possible after missing his entire rookie season.

For now, there is no reason to conclude that his 49ers career is over. He remains on the team’s active roster, and his performance before leaving the Titans game offered evidence that San Francisco’s interest in him was justified.

Final Thoughts

Kurtis Rourke’s NFL journey has already included plenty of twists.

The 49ers drafted him No. 227 overall in 2025, but a knee injury prevented him from playing during his rookie season. After a long rehabilitation, he finally reached the field in August 2026.

His first NFL appearance was encouraging. Rourke completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards and added 14 rushing yards before a rib injury forced him out.

The latest injury is another hurdle, but it does not erase the promise he showed.

For the 49ers, the key question now is whether Rourke can get healthy and build on that impressive start. For collectors, his rookie cards provide an early opportunity to own cards from a quarterback whose NFL story is still being written.

FAQs

Who is Kurtis Rourke?
Kurtis Rourke is a quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. He was selected in the seventh round of the 2025 NFL Draft with the 227th overall pick.

What happened to Kurtis Rourke?
Rourke suffered a rib injury during his 2026 preseason debut against the Tennessee Titans after taking a hit on a scramble. He was taken to a hospital for further evaluation after experiencing breathing difficulties.

What are Kurtis Rourke’s NFL stats?
In his 2026 preseason debut, Rourke completed 12 of 14 passes for 101 yards and rushed for 14 yards.

Why did Kurtis Rourke miss the 2025 season?
He missed the season while recovering from a knee injury that required surgery following his final college season at Indiana.

Does Kurtis Rourke have a rookie card?
Yes. Rourke appears in several 2025 football card releases, including Panini Score, Panini Prizm and Panini Phoenix.

What is Kurtis Rourke’s rookie card number?
One notable rookie is the 2025 Panini Prizm card numbered #397, while his 2025 Panini Score rookie is #82.

Is Kurtis Rourke still with the 49ers?
Yes. The 49ers and NFL currently list Rourke as a quarterback on San Francisco’s roster.

How tall is Kurtis Rourke?
Rourke is listed at 6-foot-4 by the NFL and the 49ers.