Despite a report that Seneca Wallace was retiring after he didn't travel with the San Francisco 49ers for their preseason finale against the San Diego Chargers, the veteran quarterback said Friday he still has the "desire" to play.
"I have not retired," Wallace told the Des Moines Register. "I have just removed myself from the San Francisco situation because it wasn't a perfect fit for me."
Wallace's agent, Don Yee, met with Jim Harbaugh on Thursday morning and told the 49ers coach that the quarterback didn't want to play against the Chargers if it was in a mop-up role that could jeopardize his health, according to The Sacramento Bee.
Confusion about Wallace's status arose after Harbaugh said the ninth-year pro told him he's not "continuing playing football."
"For him to come out and say that, 'Hey, Seneca's planning on his retirement' ... I don't think that's even 100 percent fair for him to come out and say that because I don't even know him," Wallace told the Register. "I think that should be my decision."
The 49ers signed Wallace on Aug. 22 to compete with backup quarterbacks Colt McCoy, B.J. Daniels and Scott Tolzien. The 49ers released Tolzien after the 49ers' third preseason game.
Harbaugh said he was surprised by Wallace's sudden decision: "I've never seen it done on game day, but I wish him well."
The 49ers are expected to cut their roster to 53 players Saturday morning before the deadline.
