A onetime Detroit Lions quarterback has quickly found another NFL job, signing with a new team only 24 hours after being cut.
Adrian Martinez — who originally joined Detroit as an undrafted rookie in 2023 and flashed potential during training camp — has rejoined the New York Jets’ practice squad. His return comes shortly after the San Francisco 49ers released him. Martinez, known for his mobility and playmaking ability, saw his first regular-season snaps this year and could get a longer look with a Jets team that’s already preparing for the offseason.
Martinez Returns to Familiar Territory
Martinez faced long odds during his stint with Detroit, entering a quarterback group that included fellow rookie Hendon Hooker, who at the time was still coming back from ACL surgery.
Though Martinez didn’t survive final roster cuts with the Lions, he found success elsewhere. His breakout came in the UFL with the Birmingham Stallions, where he threw for 1,750 yards, 15 touchdowns, and just three interceptions. He added another 530 rushing yards and three rushing scores, earning All-UFL honors and capturing UFL Championship MVP after leading the Stallions to the league title.
His NFL path has been rockier. Martinez has spent time with the Jets previously and joined the 49ers earlier this season following Brock Purdy’s injury. Outside of a late-game kneel-down, he hasn’t seen meaningful snaps. Now he returns to a Jets team eliminated from playoff contention, potentially giving him a chance to show more.
Detroit has since moved on from Hooker as well. The Lions released him before this season, and after a short stay with the Carolina Panthers, he was cut again in November and remains unsigned.
Jared Goff Approaches a Crucial Weekend
Detroit hasn’t needed to lean on its backups thanks to the durability and consistency of Jared Goff. Goff has guided the Lions to back-to-back NFC North crowns, and Detroit now enters a pivotal matchup as it battles for playoff positioning.
On Sunday, the Lions head west to face the NFC-leading Los Angeles Rams — Goff’s former team. The storyline of his 2021 trade for Matthew Stafford has resurfaced again, but Goff made clear he’s long past that chapter.
“It feels like ages ago,” Goff told reporters Wednesday. He noted that after playing Los Angeles in the playoffs in 2023 and again the following season, the emotional weight of facing his former team has faded.
Detroit previously eliminated the Rams in the 2023 postseason on its way to the NFC Championship Game.
