The San Francisco 49ers have shown they can win without quarterback Brock Purdy, which is reassuring given that he may not be fully healthy anytime soon.
Niners coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Purdy might not be at full strength for the remainder of this season. Purdy missed his fifth straight game during the 49ers’ 34-24 victory over the New York Giants. The team currently stands at 6-3 overall and 5-2 with Mac Jones starting in Purdy’s absence due to a lingering toe injury.
Purdy has missed two games earlier in the season because of this toe ailment, along with an injury to his non-throwing shoulder. Despite this, reports suggest he could be well enough to return for San Francisco’s upcoming showdown on Sunday against their rivals, the Los Angeles Rams, at Levi’s Stadium.
### Brock Purdy May Not Be 100 Percent Again This Season
No player who logs significant snaps is ever truly 100 percent healthy once November rolls around, but Purdy’s condition—turf toe, medically defined as a hyperextended big toe—is especially painful when playing on artificial turf. This injury is likely to remain a concern for the 49ers throughout the rest of the season.
“Any time you’re dealing with this turf toe, it’s something that probably won’t fully go away all year,” Shanahan said after the 49ers’ win over the Giants. “Regardless of when he comes back, he’s always going to have to deal with it a little bit.”
The 49ers have played two consecutive games on turf and three of their past five games on artificial surfaces. However, that streak will end when they return home to face the Rams. Sunday’s game marks the start of a stretch featuring five straight games on grass (including four in a row), followed by their Week 14 bye and then a home game in Tennessee.
This upcoming matchup is considered conducive for Purdy’s potential return, according to Shanahan. “When you talk to people who have gone through turf toe, it’s really about when is it the best time when you have to deal with it the least,” Shanahan explained. “It’s a little bit of a tricky decision.”
### The 49ers Are Trying To Get Brock Purdy As Healthy As Possible Before He Returns
When asked about the possibility of Purdy undergoing toe surgery, Shanahan indicated that it is unlikely. Meanwhile, Mac Jones has continued to perform impressively in his pro career. The fifth-year quarterback boasts a 67.2% completion percentage, a 10-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio, and is averaging 261.7 passing yards per game. This strong performance has provided no pressing reason to rush Purdy back onto the field.
Shanahan is focused on carefully easing Purdy back into practice, conscious of not pushing the quarterback too hard given the severity of his injury. The 49ers currently hold about an 80% chance of making the playoffs, and they will want their No. 1 quarterback healthy if they hope to make a serious run at playing a Super Bowl on their home turf in February.
“I just want to make sure he gets 100 percent better, and I won’t put him out there too early,” Shanahan said. “I thought about [Purdy] as a backup or emergency [third QB], but I think the more time we give him, the better.”
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