SANTA CLARA — Only one thing has kept Brock Purdy out of the 49ers’ starting lineup since seizing it two years ago: the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed, which theye secured early enough last year to spare Purdy and other stars from the meaningless regular-season finale.
Purdy’s status for Sunday’s game at Green Bay is growing grim. That could mean a lot for the 49ers (5-5) as they try upsetting the host Packers (7-3).
A right-shoulder issue is limiting Purdy at practice, and after not throwing during Wednesday’s session open to the media, he briefly attempted light throws Thursday before leaving the field as practice continued.
“He did a little bit more today. By no means was he doing his normal workload,” coach Kyle Shanahan said on KNBR 680-AM. “He went back in (to the facility) halfway through, rested his arm up, continued his rehab and hopefully it will be feeling great on Sunday.”
Rather than dispatch Purdy for his usual post-practice press conference, the 49ers pushed that session to Friday, with no assurance he will be the starting quarterback at that podium.
Brandon Allen is likely first out of the 49ers’ bullpen if Purdy is scratched from the lineup; Allen declined to speak Thursday at his locker. Josh Dobbs is also available, and rookie Tanner Mordecai is on the practice squad as a potential emergency No. 3 quarterback, a job the 49ers infamously left vacant in their 2022 NFC Championship Game’s loss in which Purdy sustained a torn elbow ligament.
Also perhaps missing from Sunday’s NFC battle in Green Bay are left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) and defensive end Nick Bosa (obliques, hips); neither has practiced this week after battling through their injuries in Sunday’s 20-17 loss to Seattle.
Running back Christian McCaffrey, two games into his comeback, is focused on his job rather than who’ll be getting him the ball.
“I’ve never worried about who’s in, especially on Thursday in practice,” McCaffrey said. “I’ve seen enough guys not practice all week and go out and have incredible games. He’ll handle his business, and we’ll all handle ours.”
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings kept his perspective mum on the quarterback quandary, saying only: “We’ve got to go in and win, man. That’s it.”
Purdy’s been a gamer to this point, starting through fractured ribs as a 2022 rookie, quickly overcoming post-concussion symptoms on a short week last season, and, of course, parlaying his elbow-ligament repair into the most passing yards (4,280) in a 49ers season.
Purdy’s been off that pace, and off with his accuracy this season (career-low 66.0 completion percentage). He hasn’t attempted a pass over 20 yards in the past two games, but he did deliver pin-point passes toward the sidelines on their game-winning drive Nov. 10 at Tampa Bay.
Shanahan said Purdy coped with shoulder pain by staying warm on the sideline in Sunday’s eventual 20-17 loss to Seattle. He completed 21-of-28 passes for 159 yards, one touchdown and one interception, plus he scored on a 10-yard, first-quarter touchdown run in which he landed on his right shoulder diving for the right pylon.
“I didn’t see anything that looked different and he didn’t complain about it to me,” Shanahan said.
Allen, as Purdy’s immediate backup, has played just one snap this season, when he took a knee to finish off the 32-19, season-opening win over the New York Jets. Allen, 32, saw no action as the 49ers’ No. 3 quarterback last season, and he is 2-7 all-time as a NFL starter, with his last start coming for the 2021 Cincinnati Bengals.
While Allen has thrown 263 career passes for 1,611 yards (10 touchdowns, six interceptions), Dobbs has much more production in his journeyman career with 502 passes, 2,920 yards (15 touchdowns, 13 interceptions) plus 496 rushing yards. A year ago, Dobbs bounced from the Cleveland Browns to the Arizona Cardinals to the Minnesota Vikings; Dobbs went 1-7 for Arizona before going 2-2 as Kirk Cousins’ replacement in Minnesota, where he got benched weeks before the Vikings’ penultimate game at Green Bay.
The preceding week, in the 23-20 victory over the Buccaneers, Purdy produced his seventh straight road start with a passer rating of at least 100.0. Only Tom Brady (nine), Russell Wilson (nine) and Carson Palmer (eight) have longer streaks. In Purdy’s seven-road stretch, he’s completed 71.4 percent of his passes (150-for210) for 2,035 yards, 19 touchdowns and just one interception en route to six wins and one loss (at Minnesota).
McCAFFREY’S THIRD OUTING
McCaffrey is tunnel-visioned on how he can bolster the 49ers’ offense in what will be his third game since battling Achilles tendinitis. “I don’t care who’s back there for me (at quarterback,” McCaffrey said. “I’ve got to be on a spot, I’ve got to be there fast and, you know, just prepare for anything. I just control what I can control.”
Of his 32 carries (118 yards), he’s yet to pop any longer than 13 yards, though he did make a 30-yard catch in his season debut at Tampa Bay to highlight his 95 receiving yards through two games.
“I don’t know if I’ll ever be where I want to be. But, no, it’s definitely physically getting better and I’m starting to develop that callus,” McCaffrey said.
SORENSEN REVIEWS DEFENSE
Defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen confirmed that the 49ers’ lost a gap that allowed a lane for Geno Smith to scramble through for Seattle’s game-winning touchdown Sunday. The 49ers did not blitz on that play, nor on all but two plays in the game. Why not? “There’s always a time and a place,” Sorensen said of blitzing. “I’d like to be aggressive. It depends on the situation.”
Sunday’s situation could be devoid of Bosa, who didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday, as was the case last week when only his right oblique hurt. Bosa left Sunday’s third quarter after straining his left oblique. “It’s not just about who you have. It’s about who you’re going against,” Sorensen added.
MOODY’S WEATHER
Kicker Jake Moody practiced amid gusty winds Thursday on Levi’s Stadium’s field, but he noted the elements are not expected to be as tricky Sunday at Green Bay. Moody is already listening to advice from punter Pat O’Donnell, who played for the Packers in 2022 and told Moody that “it’s not as windy as you may think.”
Sunday’s forecast calls for a high of 45 degrees, a low of 37, and 9 mph winds with a 22% chance of rain, per Weather.com. The 49ers won their last visit to Green Bay on Robbie Gould’s 45-yard, walk-off field goal in the snow-laced divisional playoffs on Jan. 22, 2022.
TOMMY HART MOURNED
The 49ers announced the passing of Tommy Hart, a 1968 draft pick who played defensive end for a decade with them before returning to win three Super Bowls with them as an assistant coach (1983-91) and scout (1992-93). Hart’s 80th birthday was Nov. 7.
INJURY REPORTS
Punt returner Jacob Cowing did not practice and did conditioning work on the side as he works through the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Linebacker Tatum Bethune (knee) and defensive tackle Kevin Givens (groin) remained out of practice along with Bosa and Williams. Limited were McCaffrey, tight end George Kittle (hamstring), cornerback Charvarius Ward (personal) and center Jon Feliciano (knee).
Cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) missed his second straight practice with the Packers, who listed running back Josh Jacobs (quadriceps, calf) as limited.