The 49ers will have their starting quarterback ready to roll in Week 4. After two missed games, Brock Purdy is returning; Kyle Shanahan confirmed the recently extended passer will be back against the Jaguars.
It had been trending in this direction for a bit. Purdy made progress early during his recovery, offering more optimism than this two-injury rehab process initially brought. His return will be a welcome sight to another injury-plagued 49ers team.
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San Francisco lost its starter to a bout with turf toe and a shoulder injury. These two games marked Purdy’s second and third injury-driven absences as a pro (he missed Week 18 of the 2024 season). Though, Purdy has obviously not been a health staple since debuting. His UCL tear sustained in the 2022 NFC championship game prompted the NFL to change the rules regarding QB roster spots. While Purdy was limited throughout the 49ers’ ensuing offseason, he returned in Week 1 of the following season and earned an original-ballot Pro Bowl nod.
This comeback will help a 49ers team that has missed George Kittle, Jauan Jennings and Ben Bartch on offense. San Francisco’s defense absorbed the strongest injury blow, losing Nick Bosa for the season. Still, the 49ers are 3-0 and facing a favorable schedule.
Mac Jones delivered two capable performances, helming the 49ers to wins over the Saints and Cardinals. Benched by the Patriots in 2023 and dealt to the Jaguars for a Day 3 pick in 2024, Jones is on a two-year, $7MM contract. The backup performed well considering the injuries the 49ers have suffered on offense; this included Jones aggravating a PCL sprain sustained in the preseason. The former New England first-rounder combined for 563 passing yards, four touchdown passes and one interception (66.3% completion rate) in his starts, providing an encouraging sign in the event Purdy misses more time.
How Purdy performs upon return will be worth monitoring, as the 49ers gave him a five-year, $265MM extension that came with $100MM fully guaranteed. Purdy, 25, received a no-trade clause on a deal that did not approach Dak Prescott‘s 2024 record-setter. Purdy sits as only the seventh-highest-paid QB, but 49ers fans will need to see a noticeable gap between he and Jones to feel good about the team reshaping its cap sheet around a $53MM-per-year contract.
Purdy did his best work when the 49ers carried their five-All-Pro cadre on offense in 2023. Only two of those players (Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams) are presently available, with Kittle on IR, Brandon Aiyuk on the reserve/PUP list and Deebo Samuel being traded. The 49ers did see Jennings provide a limited practice Friday after missing Week 3 with ankle and shoulder maladies. Ricky Pearsall, who exited Week 3 as the NFL’s third-leading pass catcher, practiced twice in a limited capacity this week with a knee injury. The 49ers also saw Demarcus Robinson‘s three-game personal conduct suspension end, moving the free agency addition toward his debut.