SANTA CLARA — Only one thing has kept Brock Purdy out of the 49ers’ starting lineup since seizing it two years ago: the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, which theye secured early enough last year to spare Purdy and other stars from the meaningless regular-season finale.
Purdy’s status for Sunday’s game at Green Bay is growing grim. That could mean a lot for the 49ers (5-5) as they try upsetting the host Packers (7-3).
A right-shoulder issue is limiting Purdy at practice, and after not throwing during Wednesday’s session open to the media, he briefly attempted light throws Thursday before leaving the field as practice continued.
“He did a little bit more today. By no means was he doing his normal workload,” coach Kyle Shanahan said 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.”
Rather than dispatch Purdy for his usual post-practice press conference, the 49ers pushed that session to Friday, with no assurance he will be the starting quarterback at that podium.
Brandon Allen is likely first out of the 49ers’ bullpen if Purdy is scratched from the lineup; Allen declined to speak Thursday at his locker. Josh Dobbs is also available, and rookie Tanner Mordecai is on the practice squad as a potential emergency No. 3 quarterback, a job the 49ers infamously left vacant in their 2022 NFC Championship Game’s loss in which Purdy sustained a torn elbow ligament.
Also perhaps missing from Sunday’s NFC battle in Green Bay are left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and defensive end Nick Bosa (obliques, hips); neither has practiced this week after battling through their injuries in Sunday’s 20-17 loss to Seattle.
Running back Christian McCaffrey, two games into his comeback, is focused on his job rather than who’ll be getting him the ball.
“I’ve never worried about who’s in, especially on Thursday in practice,” McCaffrey said. “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.”
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings kept his perspective mum on the quarterback quandary, saying only: “We’ve got to go in and win, man. That’s it.”
Purdy’s been a gamer to this point, starting through fractured ribs as a 2022 rookie, quickly overcoming post-concussion symptoms on a short week last season, and, of course, parlaying his elbow-ligament repair into the most passing yards (4,280) in a 49ers season.
Purdy’s been off that pace, and off with his accuracy this season (career-low 66.0 completion percentage). He hasn’t attempted a pass over 20 yards in the past two games, but he did deliver pin-point passes toward the sidelines on their game-winning drive Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay.
Shanahan said Purdy coped with shoulder pain by staying warm on the sideline in Sunday’s eventual 20-17 loss to Seattle. He completed 21-of-28 passes for 159 yards, one touchdown and one interception, plus he scored on a 10-yard, first-quarter touchdown run in which he landed on …read more
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment