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The San Francisco 49ers are optimistic about the status of quarterback Brock Purdy for their Week 13 clash with the Buffalo Bills, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Schefter reported “there does not seem to be a high level of concern” internally.
Purdy is dealing with shoulder soreness that ruled him out for Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Friday there isn’t any “long-term concern” for now, though.
“We got the MRI on Monday, we really just thought he needed some rest,” he said. “We really weren’t concerned about him not being good this week, but when he started up Thursday, it surprised him, it surprised us how (his shoulder injury) felt. So, we had to shut him down.”
Still, Shanahan said that “it really is up in the air for next week.”
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Purdy’s injury could open the door for the Niners to seriously pursue former New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones:
San Francisco can’t afford to leave anything to chance when it comes to the quarterback position. The team is 5-5 and in a three-way tie for second-place in the NFC West. Injuries have wreaked havoc on the Niners all year and they could be in jeopardy of missing the playoffs altogether.
Brandon Allen is getting the nod Sunday in place of Purdy with Joshua Dobbs backing him up. Neither would be a convincing choice if Purdy’s injury continues to linger in Week 13 and beyond.
Allen’s last start was back in 2021 and he has thrown for 1,611 yards, 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in 16 career appearances. Aside from a three-week spell in 2023 with the Minnesota Vikings, Dobbs has been just as shaky in a high-usage role. He wound up with 2,464 passing yards, 13 touchdowns and 10 interceptions with the Vikings and Arizona Cardinals last year.
Jones has obvious flaws of his own. After it looked like he turned a corner in 2022, he had 2,979 yards and 10 touchdowns to 13 picks while posting a 76.6 QB rating and a 36.3 QBR over the next two seasons.
With a dearth of better options on the board, signing Jones might nonetheless be San Francisco’s best contingency plan if Purdy’s shoulder doesn’t improve by Monday.
