SANTA CLARA — Just one factor has saved Brock Purdy out of the 49ers’ beginning lineup since seizing it two years in the past: the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, which theye secured early sufficient final 12 months to spare Purdy and different stars from the meaningless regular-season finale.
Purdy’s standing for Sunday’s recreation at Inexperienced Bay is rising grim. That would imply quite a bit for the 49ers (5-5) as they fight upsetting the host Packers (7-3).
A right-shoulder subject is limiting Purdy at observe, and after not throwing throughout Wednesday’s session open to the media, he briefly tried gentle throws Thursday earlier than leaving the sector as observe continued.
“He did a little bit more today. By no means was he doing his normal workload,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned on KNBR 680-AM. “He went back in (to the facility) halfway through, rested his arm up, continued his rehab and hopefully it will be feeling great on Sunday.”
Moderately than dispatch Purdy for his ordinary post-practice press convention, the 49ers pushed that session to Friday, with no assurance he would be the beginning quarterback at that podium.
Brandon Allen is probably going first out of the 49ers’ bullpen if Purdy is scratched from the lineup; Allen declined to talk Thursday at his locker. Josh Dobbs can be accessible, and rookie Tanner Mordecai is on the observe squad as a possible emergency No. 3 quarterback, a job the 49ers infamously left vacant of their 2022 NFC Championship Recreation’s loss through which Purdy sustained a torn elbow ligament.
Additionally maybe lacking from Sunday’s NFC battle in Inexperienced Bay are left sort out Trent Williams (ankle) and defensive finish Nick Bosa (obliques, hips); neither has practiced this week after battling by means of their accidents in Sunday’s 20-17 loss to Seattle.
Operating again Christian McCaffrey, two video games into his comeback, is targeted on his job fairly than who’ll be getting him the ball.
“I’ve never worried about who’s in, especially on Thursday in practice,” McCaffrey mentioned. “I’ve seen enough guys not practice all week and go out and have incredible games. He’ll handle his business, and we’ll all handle ours.”
Broad receiver Jauan Jennings saved his perspective mum on the quarterback quandary, saying solely: “We’ve got to go in and win, man. That’s it.”
Purdy’s been a gamer thus far, beginning by means of fractured ribs as a 2022 rookie, rapidly overcoming post-concussion signs on a brief week final season, and, after all, parlaying his elbow-ligament restore into probably the most passing yards (4,280) in a 49ers season.
Purdy’s been off that tempo, and off together with his accuracy this season (career-low 66.0 completion share). He hasn’t tried a move over 20 yards prior to now two video games, however he did ship pin-point passes towards the sidelines on their game-winning drive Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay.
Shanahan mentioned Purdy coped with shoulder ache by staying heat on the sideline in Sunday’s eventual 20-17 loss to Seattle. He accomplished 21-of-28 passes for 159 yards, one landing and one interception, plus he scored on a 10-yard, first-quarter landing run through which he landed on his proper shoulder diving for the precise pylon.
“I didn’t see anything that looked different and he didn’t complain about it to me,” Shanahan mentioned.
Allen, as Purdy’s instant backup, has performed only one snap this season, when he took a knee to complete off the 32-19, season-opening win over the New York Jets. Allen, 32, noticed no motion because the 49ers’ No. 3 quarterback final season, and he’s 2-7 all-time as a NFL starter, together with his final begin coming for the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals.
Whereas Allen has thrown 263 profession passes for 1,611 yards (10 touchdowns, six interceptions), Dobbs has rather more manufacturing in his journeyman profession with 502 passes, 2,920 yards (15 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) plus 496 dashing yards. A 12 months in the past, Dobbs bounced from the Cleveland Browns to the Arizona Cardinals to the Minnesota Vikings; Dobbs went 1-7 for Arizona earlier than going 2-2 as Kirk Cousins’ substitute in Minnesota, the place he received benched weeks earlier than the Vikings’ penultimate recreation at Inexperienced Bay.
The previous week, within the 23-20 victory over the Buccaneers, Purdy produced his seventh straight street begin with a passer ranking of not less than 100.0. Solely Tom Brady (9), Russell Wilson (9) and Carson Palmer (eight) have longer streaks. In Purdy’s seven-road stretch, he’s accomplished 71.4 p.c of his passes (150-for210) for two,035 yards, 19 touchdowns and only one interception en route to 6 wins and one loss (at Minnesota).
McCAFFREY’S THIRD OUTING
McCaffrey is tunnel-visioned on how he can bolster the 49ers’ offense in what will probably be his third recreation since battling Achilles tendinitis. “I don’t care who’s back there for me (at quarterback,” McCaffrey mentioned. “I’ve got to be on a spot, I’ve got to be there fast and, you know, just prepare for anything. I just control what I can control.”
Of his 32 carries (118 yards), he’s but to pop any longer than 13 yards, although he did make a 30-yard catch in his season debut at Tampa Bay to focus on his 95 receiving yards by means of two video games.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be where I want to be. But, no, it’s definitely physically getting better and I’m starting to develop that callus,” McCaffrey mentioned.
SORENSEN REVIEWS DEFENSE
Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen confirmed that the 49ers’ misplaced a niche that allowed a lane for Geno Smith to scramble by means of for Seattle’s game-winning landing Sunday. The 49ers didn’t blitz on that play, nor on all however two performs within the recreation. Why not? “There’s always a time and a place,” Sorensen mentioned of blitzing. “I’d like to be aggressive. It depends on the situation.”
Sunday’s scenario might be devoid of Bosa, who didn’t observe Wednesday or Thursday, as was the case final week when solely his proper indirect damage. Bosa left Sunday’s third quarter after straining his left indirect. “It’s not just about who you have. It’s about who you’re going against,” Sorensen added.
MOODY’S WEATHER
Kicker Jake Moody practiced amid gusty winds Thursday on Levi’s Stadium’s subject, however he famous the weather usually are not anticipated to be as tough Sunday at Inexperienced Bay. Moody is already listening to recommendation from punter Pat O’Donnell, who performed for the Packers in 2022 and instructed Moody that “it’s not as windy as you may think.”
Sunday’s forecast requires a excessive of 45 levels, a low of 37, and 9 mph winds with a 22% likelihood of rain, per Climate.com. The 49ers gained their final go to to Inexperienced Bay on Robbie Gould’s 45-yard, walk-off subject aim within the snow-laced divisional playoffs on Jan. 22, 2022.
TOMMY HART MOURNED
The 49ers introduced the passing of Tommy Hart, a 1968 draft choose who performed defensive finish for a decade with them earlier than returning to win three Tremendous Bowls with them as an assistant coach (1983-91) and scout (1992-93). Hart’s eightieth birthday was Nov. 7.
INJURY REPORTS
Punt returner Jacob Cowing didn’t observe and did conditioning work on the aspect as he works by means of the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Linebacker Tatum Bethune (knee) and defensive sort out Kevin Givens (groin) remained out of form together with Bosa and Williams. Restricted have been McCaffrey, tight finish George Kittle (hamstring), cornerback Charvarius Ward (private) and heart Jon Feliciano (knee).
Cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) missed his second straight observe with the Packers, who listed working again Josh Jacobs (quadriceps, calf) as restricted.
Initially Printed: November 21, 2024 at 4:21 PM PST
