Shanahan: Purdy Unlikely to Be Fully Healthy This Season.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The San Francisco 49ers have maintained optimism regarding quarterback Brock Purdy’s ability to recover from his right big toe ailment, with hopes of him resuming his starting position, for the preceding three weeks.

Nevertheless, while Purdy has demonstrated advancement, there exists a tangible likelihood that even upon his return, he may not attain full recovery, as acknowledged by coach Kyle Shanahan following Sunday’s 34-24 victory over the New York Giants.

“We’re aiming to gradually introduce Brock back into practice activities, but considering the nature of his turf toe, it’s plausible that it won’t entirely resolve itself throughout the year, regardless of his return date,” Shanahan stated. “He’ll likely have to manage it to some extent… Therefore, the key is determining the optimal timing for his return, minimizing the discomfort he experiences. It presents a somewhat intricate decision.”

When questioned about the potential necessity of surgery for Purdy’s toe, Shanahan responded, “I haven’t received any such indication.”

Purdy has participated in a limited capacity in team practices for the past three weeks. In the preceding week, Purdy felt sufficiently at ease to commence repetitions with the primary offensive unit, although Shanahan characterized the volume as “modest.”

Despite this, Purdy was listed as questionable leading up to Sunday’s game against the Giants, marking the first instance since aggravating the toe injury in a Week 4 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars that he hadn’t been definitively ruled out beforehand. Ultimately, Purdy remained inactive before the game, and the Niners opted against utilizing him as the emergency third quarterback behind Mac Jones and Adrian Martinez.

Following the win, Shanahan conveyed that Purdy “wasn’t particularly close” to being activated, considering his expedited return from the injury initially sustained in Week 1, which was then exacerbated after only two games of rest.

“I’m committed to ensuring his complete recovery and avoiding his premature return,” Shanahan affirmed. “[We] contemplated him as a potential backup or emergency option, but I believe that additional time will be beneficial.”

While Shanahan indicated that the Niners would “re-evaluate” Purdy’s status for the upcoming week’s contest against the Los Angeles Rams in a similar vein to their approach in the previous week, the Niners appear content with Jones as the starter. In Sunday’s game against the Giants, Jones commenced with 14 completions out of 14 attempts for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the first half, ultimately concluding with 19 completions out of 24 attempts for 235 yards and two touchdowns, resulting in a passer rating of 135.2. The 49ers hold a record of 5-2 in games started by Jones this season.

In a parallel development, the 49ers were unable to depart MetLife Stadium without incurring another seemingly noteworthy injury. With 4:06 remaining, rookie defensive end Mykel Williams applied pressure to Giants quarterback Jaxson Dart as he delivered an incomplete pass to his right. However, Williams remained on the ground following the play, promptly clutching his right knee and expressing his frustration by striking his helmet and the turf.

Shanahan revealed post-game that the Niners are “concerned” about Williams potentially suffering a torn ACL. Further evaluations are scheduled for Monday, according to Shanahan, who mentioned briefly conversing with Williams in the locker room.

“He’s feeling disheartened, and the outcome remains uncertain,” Shanahan stated. “Hopefully, it’s not the most severe scenario, but if it is, it’s undoubtedly disappointing for this year. However, that’s the extent of its impact. He’ll return next year, and this won’t have any lasting consequences.”

A season-ending injury to the No. 11 overall draft pick would represent another devastating setback for a 49ers team that has been significantly impacted by injuries throughout the season. This holds especially true on the defensive line, where the Niners entered Sunday’s game without ends Nick Bosa (right knee), Bryce Huff (hamstring), and Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring).

San Francisco is also currently without star linebacker Fred Warner (right ankle), as he, Bosa, and Gross-Matos are on injured reserve. Huff was anticipated to return against the Rams next week, but the Niners executed a trade for defensive lineman Keion White last week and signed veteran Clelin Ferrell to the practice squad.

White and Ferrell assumed prominent roles against the Giants mere days after their signings, but Williams’ injury might necessitate the Niners to contemplate another trade before Tuesday’s deadline.

“Injuries are an inherent aspect of the game, and every team grapples with them, but we’ve experienced a particularly severe onslaught of injuries,” left tackle Trent Williams observed. “We’ve managed to persevere and overcome these challenges. However, the tipping point remains an unknown. It’s evident that Mykel is a vital component of the defense, and we’re praying that it’s not a serious injury. Nevertheless, in the event that it is, it’s imperative that the next player steps up, assumes his position, and we place our reliance on him.”