49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said on Wednesday that quarterback Brock Purdy has a chance to play in Week 3, according to Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Purdy was sidelined in Week 2 by a shoulder injury and a case of turf toe. In his absence, backup Mac Jones didn’t just answer the bell; he put up one of the best games of his career with 279 passing yards and three touchdowns on the way to a 26-21 victory over the Saints.
Though Jones impressed under center, the 49ers will still be hoping that Purdy can be back on the field as soon as possible. After missing practice entirely last week, he was a limited participant on Wednesday and Thursday, an indicator that he’s trending in the right direction.
“I’m happy with the progress I’m making with my foot and my toe,” Purdy said after Thursday’s practice (via Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group). “It’s a day to day thing with how I feel.”
Asked if he would play on Sunday, Purdy responded (via Inman), “Definitely got to see come game time how I feel. Obviously I want to play every game.” He also said that he was “trying to be smart with [his] body,” but noted the importance of the 49ers’ divisional matchup with the Cardinals on Sunday.
Based on his comments, Purdy’s availability may come down to a game-time decision, potentially dependent on how he feels during his pregame warmup. Even if he can’t go, Jones’ performance in Week 2 should give the 49ers some confidence that they can still take the lead in the NFC West this weekend.
It’s a Mac attack this Sunday. Going forward Brock can handle the show. Be smart here.
From past experience, if they were to play Purdy, they would probably want to sign Martinez to the main roster at least for the week to be QB3 because all it would take would be a setback to Purdy and a concussion to Jones to force an injured Purdy back on the field.
You need to building the confidence of a young QB at every opportunity. Yanking Mac after a strong showing does just the opposite. When he starts to struggle then you go to another option.
“You need to building the confidence of a young QB at every opportunity. Yanking Mac after a strong showing does just the opposite”
That would make any kind of sense if Mac was anything but a back up. He knows his job. When Purdy is ready to go, Mac goes back to the bench. He is the back up.
A backup with confidence is going to have more value to a team than a backup with no confidence and a coach never knows when he might need to rely on the guy again.
They wouldn’t be “yanking” him after a strong showing… they would be playing the starter and having the backup go back to being a backup. Same point again.
In most sports coaches will stay with the hot hand until he cools off because it shields them from criticism. it’s a logical approach.
But we both know that was NEVER the situation here. Purdy is the starter. Mac is the back up. Was always going to be the situation. Same point 3 times.
I’ll always be amazed how the NFL hasn’t done a full blown investigation into Shanahan consistently playing misinformation & half-truths with players’ health status
Well Belichick and the Patriots were the masters at that. Goodell repeatedly sent memos telling the organization to be more transparent but nothing really got done because Kraft would always interfere and stop any investigation.
What is the problem with saying that a guy who practice this week might play? Is it harder for the other team to gamelan? Sure. But you should be trying to make it hard for your opponent to game plan at every turn.