The San Francisco 49ers’ chief coach, Kyle Shanahan, stated that Brock Purdy will be the starting player this Sunday during the away game against the Arizona Cardinals. This information comes from NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco, who reported on Thursday that Shanahan revealed Purdy’s comeback during the recording of “49ers Game Plan.”
Purdy himself told reporters on Thursday that he anticipates starting on Sunday.
“I’m feeling quite well,” Purdy expressed. “My health is good, and I’m thrilled to return and guide the team. I’m eagerly anticipating this week. It’s been a positive week thus far, and we have a couple more days ahead. We need to finish strongly this week, but I’m feeling really good.”
Earlier in the week, as Purdy intensified his preparations for his first game after a toe injury that sidelined him for eight games, including six consecutively, Shanahan brushed aside the notion that it would be challenging to determine whether his primary quarterback should play instead of the backup, Mac Jones.
“The decision isn’t difficult,” Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s primarily about Brock’s health. Mac’s performance has been outstanding. He’s been remarkable, but we have considerable faith in Brock, and we’re confident Brock will also perform at a high standard, provided he’s healthy.”
Purdy hasn’t participated in a game since exacerbating his toe injury during a Week 4 defeat to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He initially sustained the turf toe injury in a season-opening victory against the Seattle Seahawks.
The 49ers and Purdy are employing a more measured strategy for his return to play this time. Meanwhile, Jones has excelled as QB1, leading an injury-plagued San Francisco squad to a 5-3 record in his eight starts, despite dealing with knee and oblique issues himself.
Prior to covering a Week 10 contest between the Los Angeles Rams and 49ers for Fox Sports this past weekend, seven-time Super Bowl victor Tom Brady suggested that the 49ers should continue with the quarterback who is currently performing well, with Jones playing in Purdy’s absence.
The 49ers ultimately lost to the Rams 42-26, but Jones delivered his third 300-yard passing game of the season, throwing three touchdowns and one interception in the defeat.
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During the game, former five-time All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman posted on X that he didn’t understand how Shanahan could remove Jones from the field.
“I’m not attempting to ignite controversy, but this observation is quite evident,” Sherman wrote before mentioning that, regardless of Shanahan’s decision, Jones will be starting somewhere in the upcoming season.
Shanahan wasn’t surprised by that type of reaction.
“I believe that’s simply how things are,” Shanahan said on Wednesday. “Whenever a backup quarterback steps in and plays well, that’s the primary topic of discussion. I don’t think people dwell on what individuals have accomplished in the past, whether it’s Brock or anyone else, and that’s just how the world functions, with the media or otherwise.”
“So, I don’t pay too much attention to those types of things at all. We’re all aware of how well Brock has played previously, and I believe he performed exceptionally well against Seattle. However, I also think he struggled against Jacksonville, which is why we shouldn’t have brought him back then. And I’m confident that when Brock returns, he’ll perform in the same manner he always has — as a very proficient quarterback.”
Shanahan acknowledged earlier in the month that even upon Purdy’s return from his toe injury, he likely wouldn’t be at 100% this season. However, Shanahan emphasized on Wednesday that his fourth-year signal-caller won’t need to modify his mobility when he’s back on the field.
“If that were the situation, he wouldn’t have returned,” Shanahan stated. “I believe that if you have to instruct a player to refrain from being mobile and to avoid certain situations, it becomes challenging to be successful.
“I mean, when a player steps onto that field, he needs to react and play, and if he doesn’t feel that way, which I’ll observe during practice and discuss with him, then he won’t participate.”
Purdy was officially “limited” in Wednesday’s practice, but Shanahan mentioned beforehand that the injury status wouldn’t affect his plan for Purdy to have a demanding session with the team.
Shanahan confirmed that he was attempting to prepare Purdy to the point where he’d be capable of starting on Sunday against the Cardinals.
“I believe each week has shown improvement, with last week being the most promising,” Shanahan said on Wednesday regarding Purdy’s performance in practice. “So, if he makes a significant step forward this week, similar to last week, he should have a good chance of playing.”
Purdy, the 2022 NFL Draft’s “Mr. Irrelevant,” guided the 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance following the 2023 season and signed a five-year, $265 million extension in May after San Francisco’s 6-11 finish last season.
Shanahan said that being around Purdy for an extended period provides him with a sense of the Iowa State product’s mechanics.
“You can just sense how the ball is released, how he moves, how he reacts,” he said.
Shanahan admitted that it “felt slightly off” against Jacksonville in Week 4.
Purdy has dedicated considerable effort to regain his form since then. He described his time away as “frustrating” on Thursday, but he stated that this is the best he’s felt since initially sustaining the injury.
“These are simply the circumstances I’ve been presented with, and I’m not trying to feel sorry for myself,” he said. “We still have seven games remaining to come together and achieve something, and our goals are directly in front of us. That’s my perspective. I’m enthusiastic about it.”
