"After a video surfaced in which star offensive tackle Trent Williams said that Martin had broken his thumb during a workout, many 49ers fans on social media assumed the worst," Furtado wrote. "Martin had missed most of his final season at Oklahoma State with a knee injury that likely affected his drafted stock."
Despite the injury, Martin will not require surgery and is expected to be fully ready for the start of training camp in July.
The 49ers selected Martin in the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft, hoping he can fill the void left by linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who departed in free agency to join the Denver Broncos. That would mean potentially earning a starting role alongside All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner, one of the best in the game.
"He's like the guy that I respect the most at the linebacker position in the league," Martin said of Warner after being drafted. "So, it's an honor to get to work with him and learn from him and be the guy next to him. And just playing with him and learning and growing. I'm just excited to work with him."
Warner, now entering his eighth NFL season, has been impressed by what he's seen from Martin so far.
"I've seen the athletic ability flash already on the field, and the way that he closes," Warner said last month. "[He] closes space really quickly, and he already has the great mindset of wanting to learn. So, I'm really happy with where he's at."
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Robert Saleh names 49ers' biggest rookie surprise from last season
The San Francisco 49ers invested heavily in their defense during the 2025 NFL Draft, using six of their 11 selections on defensive players, including each of their first five picks. One rookie, however, stood out more than the rest to former 49ers defensive coordinator Robert... -
49ers rookie prediction highlights concerns about key offensive weapon
San Francisco 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey is coming off an NFL Comeback Player of the Year campaign. In 2025, he totaled an impressive 2,126 scrimmage yards and 17 touchdowns, reestablishing himself as one of the NFL's most dynamic offensive weapons. McCaffrey... -
49ers roster battles: The undrafted rookie sleepers to watch
Every year, one or two undrafted rookies force the San Francisco 49ers to rethink their roster. From Matt Breida and Emmanuel Moseley to Jordan Mason, Jeff Wilson, Jr., and Azeez Al-Shaair, the 49ers have seen rookies earn opportunities after entering the league without hearing... -
Where 49ers QB Brock Purdy ranks among 2026 fantasy football tiers
CBS Sports' Heath Cummings recently unveiled his fantasy football quarterback tiers, and San Francisco 49ers fans may be interested to see where Brock Purdy landed heading into the 2026 fantasy football season. Cummings divided his quarterback rankings into seven tiers, with...