Ever since Brock Purdy re-aggravated his toe injury against the Jaguars, 49ers’ fans have been eagerly waiting for his return.
Backup quarterback Mac Jones has done a commendable job in Purdy’s absence, leading the 49ers to four wins, but Jones is battling injuries of his known, including a knee contusion suffered against the Texans.
While the 49ers’ $260 million quarterback has been practicing in limited fashion the last few weeks, head coach Kyle Shanahan is still not entirely confident in the return of Brock Purdy.
View the latest NFL odds at Bovada
Kyle Shanahan’s Update on Brock Purdy’s Status
Here’s what Shanahan had to say about Purdy’s status ahead of Wednesday’s practice (which is the first of the week and his game status will be shared on Friday):
“That he [Brock Purdy] feels confident and he’s ready to go based on how his toe feels. I mean he’s going to look that way most likely, getting out there. If he gets out there and he’s hobbling and stuff, he won’t be out there. So he’s got to go out there and go through the practices and stuff and really let us know how good he feels cause it’s hard to know what’s going on with the toe and last time we felt like he was feeling pretty good, looked pretty good in practice and in the game, it’s one hit and it set him back 5 weeks or 6 weeks, whatever this has been, 4 weeks. So, it’s kind of a sensitive situation and getting him some practice will give him some of that confidence that it was better than last time.”
Mac Jones’ Performance in Brock Purdy’s Absence
While Jones has done well to keep the 49ers offense on the tracks and operate within Kyle Shanahan’s system, San Francisco has dearly missed Brock Purdy running the show.
Jones’ advanced statistics (EPA per dropback, Success Rate, Completion Rate over Expected) all have him as a Top-18 quarterback in the NFL this season. While that’s been good enough for the 49ers to move the ball and win games this season, it has not raised the ceiling of the 49ers’ offense. That’s where Purdy comes in, who’s put together seasons where he’s had Top-8 statistical seasons.
What Brock Purdy Brings to the 49ers’ Offense
Purdy brings a scrambling ability and playmaking aspect that has helped elevate this offense in the past. Watching the Texans’ defensive line obliterate the 49ers’ pass protection up front last week, I kept wondering how Purdy could potentially use his legs to evade some of the pressures created by Danielle Hunter or Will Anderson Jr.
49ers’ Playoff Hopes and Quarterback Outlook
The 49ers are wisely being cautious, given that they don’t want to risk any re-injury to Purdy’s toe. Shanahan’s managed to keep this team afloat at 5-3 and with a favorable schedule ahead, the 49ers have their hopes set on making the postseason. To make any sort of run in January, they will need their starting quarterback healthy and playing his best.
Betting Odds and Week 9 Outlook
While it stands to be seen if the 49ers will Purdy against the Giants, Bovada has the 49ers as only 2.5-point favorites. The line would suggest that the 49ers are probably going to have Mac Jones under center again this Sunday, but we’ll get a better sense as the week goes.
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