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With 49ers shorthanded, can Brock Purdy finally prove he’s a franchise QB?

Eric Williams

NFL Reporter

Prove them right, or prove them wrong?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy may have his best opportunity yet to show his detractors that he’s not just a game manager — if he can make it onto the field this week.

The 49ers are already experiencing a rash of injuries, with Christian McCaffrey (calf, Achilles), Deebo Samuel (calf) and George Kittle (hamstring) all missing the team’s Week 3 road loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The Niners have also lost Javon Hargrave, their best interior pass rusher, for the season with a partially torn triceps. 

Purdy could be added to the list. San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters this week that the third-year QB is day-to-day after experiencing discomfort in his back. However, his MRI came back clean and Shanahan is hopeful that he can practice on Wednesday. 

While Purdy has played at a high level since taking over as the starting quarterback midway through the 2022 season, those who doubt him argue that he has been propped up by talented playmakers on offense.

But on Sunday, with three of his top playmakers out, Purdy had one of the best games of his short NFL career. He completed 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions, posting a 137.1 passer rating. He also rushed 10 times for 41 yards.

“It seemed like Brock played his ass off from what I saw,” Shanahan said. “He made a bunch of big plays. He took some good shots down the field. … When stuff wasn’t there, he did a hell of a job scrambling, making some off-schedule plays. He played his ass off.”

Last season, when some of his top players were sidelined, Purdy had the worst three-game stretch of his young career. Playing without an injured Samuel and left tackle Trent Williams early in the 2023 season, Purdy completed 55 of 88 passes (77.9%) for 762 yards, with three touchdowns and five interceptions for a 77.7 passer rating. San Francisco went…


Source link : https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/49ers-shorthanded-can-brock-purdy-finally-prove-hes-franchise-qb

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Publish date : 2024-09-24 22:50:30

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