SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Brock Purdy’s second season as a starting quarterback in the NFL ended on a disappointing note for the San Francisco 49ers. In a closely contested matchup against the Detroit Lions that resulted in a 40-34 defeat, Purdy struggled in the second half, tossing two interceptions before leaving the game due to a right elbow injury. This injury is expected to keep him sidelined during the team’s final game of the season, which holds little significance given their current standing.
Coach Kyle Shanahan provided an update the following day, revealing that Purdy is dealing with a bruise and inflammation in his elbow, although no severe long-term issues have been identified in the joint that recently underwent surgery. Purdy had previously torn the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow during the NFC title game last year, necessitating an extensive rehabilitation process. The silver lining for the 49ers, who now hold a 6-10 record, is that this injury should not disrupt Purdy’s offseason preparations.
“I’m relieved, but I wasn’t too concerned,” Shanahan expressed, showing his confidence based on the information available at the time. “I wasn’t overly worried about it with the information we had last night. It was good to hear the same thing today.” After finishing fourth in MVP voting this past season and achieving historical highs as a passer, Purdy’s performance on an offense plagued by injuries has dipped this year. In the critical moments against Detroit, his mistakes proved costly and contributed to yet another defeat.
Despite the setback, Shanahan praised Purdy for maintaining a proactive attitude throughout the season. “I think he’s handled this year head on. He hasn’t shied away from responsibility. He puts in the effort and prepares diligently,” Shanahan said, acknowledging Purdy’s commitment to improving weekly, even when faced with disappointments like the turnovers and the loss to Detroit.
As Purdy is likely unavailable for the season finale, Shanahan has not decided who will take the helm at quarterback against the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday. Both Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs are in contention, with Allen having stepped in during a game earlier in the season, while Dobbs provided a late-game touchdown drive in Monday’s loss.
In terms of the 49ers’ game performance, their offense was notably effective in the first half, scoring touchdowns on their initial three drives. Purdy threw for two touchdowns and also exploited a rushing opportunity, marking a rare achievement for the Niners. However, a critical area of concern has been their inability to create turnovers, with the team registering a league-low two takeaways in their last eight games since the bye week.
In individual performances, rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall emerged as a standout, finishing with eight receptions for 141 yards and a touchdown. This impressive outing marks the highest receiving yardage for a rookie on the 49ers since Jerry Rice’s performance over three decades ago. Conversely, kicker Jake Moody faced challenges, missing two long field goals and an extra point. With nine attempts failing this season, he is now the first Niners kicker to miss this many since 2012.
Injuries continue to mount for San Francisco, with defensive end Leonard Floyd (shoulder) and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf) listed as day-to-day. Offensive lineman Spencer Burford (calf) is not expected to return this week, meaning that newcomers will likely have to share responsibilities on the offensive line. However, cornerback Charvarius Ward is anticipated to return following personal matters that kept him out in the previous game.
Purdy’s struggles in critical late-game situations have also been highlighted, with a rating of 52.9 when down a score late in games, putting him near the bottom statistically among quarterbacks with significant attempts in those scenarios. As the 49ers prepare for their next matchup against Arizona on Sunday, they hope to finish the season on a positive note despite their challenges.
