Nate Sudfeld throws during the second half of a preseason game against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium on August 25, 2022 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

On Monday August 18, 2025, the San Francisco 49ers held tryouts with four players, including quarterback Nate Sudfeld.

Sudfeld, 31, is a Modesto native who spent the 2021 season with the 49ers backing up Jimmy Garoppolo after Trey Lance was injured.

The 49ers re-signed Sudfeld for the 2022 season. But Sudfeld was famously beat out by Brock Purdy, a rookie in 2022, for the third and final QB spot on the 49ers roster after Purdy had a strong 2022 offseason and preseason.

Could you imagine if Sudfeld had won the job over Purdy? The 49ers would likely look a lot different right now.

In his career, Sudfeld has played in 6 NFL games with 0 starts. He’s completed 25-of-37 passes for 188 yards, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. After leaving the 49ers, he spent the next few seasons with the Detroit Lions before he was out of football in 2024.

Why Sudfeld? 

Other than a Super Bowl LII ring, which Sudfeld earned after only playing in one game for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017, Sudfeld hasn’t exactly done much in his NFL career. And at 31, he’s not exactly a young, developing prospect anymore.

So why are the 49ers exploring the possibility of bringing him back in 2025?

Over the last few weeks, the 49ers have made several puzzling moves at the QB3 and QB4 positions. Purdy and Mac Jones are locked in at starter and backup, but after initially seeming to be certain who their third quarterback would be, the 49ers have been all over the place in recent weeks.

The former third QB, who seemed a lock to make the 2025 roster after spending 2024 with the 49ers, was Tanner Mordecai. But in late July, the team brought in Carter Bradley, son of Niners coach Gus Bradley, to compete with Mordecai. Then the 49ers cut Mordecai. For some reason, they then brought Mordecai back. Then they cut Mordecai again.

It seems like they’re finally done giving Mordecai a shot, but may not be sold on Bradley either. So the 49ers are instead looking to reunite with another former backup in Sudfeld.

If he somehow makes the team, it will be interesting to see Purdy work with the QB he beat out to make his ascent to 49ers franchise QB possible back in 2022.

49ers Also Work Out Three Receivers 

Sudfeld wasn’t the only player the 49ers brought in for a tryout on Monday August 11, 2025. They also worked out three wide receivers: Jalen Guyton, J.J. Jones and Colton Dowell.

Guyton is the most well-known name on that list. He’s a former rotational piece for the Los Angeles Chargers who also started 14 games for the Bolts over the years. His best season was 2020, when he had 28 catches for 511 yards and 3 touchdowns in 16 games.

Jones played at North Carolina last season and signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2025 as an undrafted free agent.

Dowell is also a younger prospect who was recently cut by the Tennessee Titans. The Titans picked him in the seventh round of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Jones could be a nice addition to the 49ers rookie class. But Guyton is probably the safest choice for the 49ers wide receiver room at this point given all of their injuries. They need someone dependable, at least to fill in for the first few weeks.

49ers fans, do you think they should bring back Nate Sudfeld? Should they also sign another wide receiver?

Ethan Inman is a sports journalist covering the San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and Las Vegas Raiders for heavy.com. He also co-hosts a college football podcast for The Voice of College Football, and writes about the NBA and MLB. He has previously covered the USC Trojans, the NHL, college baseball, and the intersection of sports and popular culture for other publications. He is based in the greater Los Angeles area. More about Ethan Inman

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