Josh Rosen gets revenge game against former team after recent signing

Josh Rosen will have his chance to get back at his former team after the San Francisco 49ers signed him. 

In a way, the Arizona Cardinals ruined Josh Rosen.

Drafted No.10 overall out of UCLA in the 2018 class, Cardinals GM Steve Kiem saw bust potential after one season in the desert. The team fired Steve Wilks, drafted Kyler Murray and shipped Rosen out to Miami for a second-round pick, knowing good and well he wasn’t what the Dolphins wanted.

Two years later, Rosen has his chance for revenge against Keim and the Cardinals.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the San Francisco 49ers will sign the former top 10 pick off of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad to the active roster. The verdict is still out on if he’ll be able to play under Kyle Shanahan when the team takes on Arizona Saturday afternoon.

Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch had their hands tied under center following the recent trend of events. Shanahan told media members Tuesday that former Nick Mullens is dealing with a right elbow injury that could require Tommy John surgery and will cost him the final two games of the year.

The season’s original starter, Jimmy Garoppolo, has been cleared to begin a 21-day practice window, but it’s unlikely he’ll play again this season. Meanwhile, practice squad quarterback Josh Johnson will be unavailable after being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

Could Rosen actually work in San Francisco?

Since being released from the Dolphins this offseason, Rosen has been learning in practice under the direction of Tom Brady. Despite not being active for a single game down in Tampa Bay, the former Bruin has learned and taken note from one of the greatest to ever play the position.

How much of Rosen’s career can be blamed on himself? That’s hard to say.

The Cardinals did little to build around him with a horrendous defense and an abysmal offensive line. In his lone season with the franchise, Rosen was one of the most-sacked quarterbacks of 2018, taking a total of 45 sacks.

In six games with the Dolphins, things didn’t improve. He was sacked 16 times and eventually was benched in favor of journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick.

In two seasons of active play, Rosen has thrown for 2,845 yards and 12 touchdowns against 19 interceptions.

Shanahan, who’s on his own path to being the next quarterback whisperer, has helped players like Kirk Cousins, Matt Ryan and Garoppolo all transform into wining gunslingers. Could Rosen be a cheap find to build around for 2021?

More than likely, Rosen is playing for a job next season. If he can defeat the club that threw him to the side a year after making him the top choice, there could be a spark that ignites a long-term deal to get done out in the Bay Area.