SANTA CLARA — Josh Dobbs will begin rather than the injured Brock Purdy when the injury-ravaged 49ers (6-10) shut their season Sunday on the Arizona Cardinals (7-9).
Purdy sustained an elbow contusion that triggered nerve irritation with about 1 1/2 minutes remaining in Monday night time’s 40-34 defeat to the Detroit Lions. He began all however one different sport for the 49ers since repairing that proper elbow after a ligament tear two years in the past within the NFC Championship Sport loss at Philadelphia.
Purdy’s damage was not deemed a long-term problem by coach Kyle Shanahan, so he ought to slot in because the starter as soon as the offseason program begins in some 3 1/2 months, presuming he doesn’t maintain out for a contract extension that he’s eligible to obtain come season’s finish.
Dobbs would be the 49ers’ third totally different beginning quarterback this season. Brandon Allen held that position within the Nov. 24 loss at Inexperienced Bay whereas Purdy sat out with a right-shoulder damage.
Shanahan mentioned of Dobbs’ observe work this season: “He’s been great, him and Brandon. I looked at both of them as the (No.) 2 through the year. Both gave good looks in the scout team. They split reps, and they’re always ready.”
As soon as Purdy acquired injured Monday night time, Dobbs got here on for his 49ers’ debut, accomplished 3-of-4 passes (35 yards), and scored on a last-minute, 7-yard landing run;
Dobbs is 3-11 all-time as an NFL starter, going 1-7 final yr for the Cardinals after which 2-2 with the Minnesota Vikings upon being traded there after Kirk Cousins’ Achilles tear. Dobbs misplaced his first two begins with the 2022 Tennessee Titans.
Dobbs’ final win coming final season for the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium in opposition to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3; Dobbs misplaced to the host 49ers the next week.
He was a 2017 fourth-round draft choose by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Tennessee, the place he was teammates with Jauan Jennings, who’s 77 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season.
Whereas Dobbs and Allen break up time because the scout group quarterback and Purdy’s backup, the 49ers additionally carried a fourth quarterback all season on the observe squad, undrafted rookie Tanner Mordecai, who figures to swimsuit up Sunday because the No. 3 quarterback.
Purdy isn’t practising Wednesday, nor are a slew of different gamers, although Shanahan mentioned none are too critical: broad receiver Deebo Samuel (ribs, wrist); tight finish George Kittle (ankle, hamstring); defensive ends Nick Bosa (knee), Leonard Floyd (shoulder) and Robert Beal (ankle); offensive linemen Colton McKivitz (knee) and Spencer Burford (calf); cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (shoulder); and, linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf).
Restricted are broad receiver Ricky Pearsall (sickness, chest), cornerback Isaac Yiadom (pelvis), and security Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle).
Initially Printed: January 1, 2025 at 11:40 AM PST
