Earlier today, we heard from Raheem Mostert’s agent that the San Francisco 49ers were promoting the running back from the practice squad. The team made the move official Saturday afternoon. They placed Marcus Martin on injured reserve to make room for Mostert’s addition.
Martin suffered an ankle injury in Week 15, and had not practiced since. The team ruled him out on Friday, along with left guard Andrew Tiller. With this being the final game and the team needing bodies for the active 46-man roster, it makes sense to place an injured player on IR to close out the season.
Martin spent the season as the primary interior reserve lineman, and moved into the lineup after Joe Staley and Daniel Kilgore got hurt. He moved in at left guard when Zane Beadles replaced Staley at left tackle. When Kilgore got hurt, Martin then moved over to center.
Martin is signed through the 2017 season, and then hits free agency. He has gotten opportunities, but has been inconsistent at best, and pretty bad with a little too much regularity. Considering the turnover we could see in the front office and maybe even the coaching staff, who knows if he makes it past roster cuts later this summer. The team will need bodies, but the rebuild will be a big one. Maybe Alex Balducci can emerge past him this coming offseason.