Brock Purdy returns to 49ers' starting lineup after 6-game absence

Shanahan told the team's flagship radio station KNBR on Thursday that Purdy will get the nod this week.

“I feel really good,” Purdy said. “I feel healthy. I'm excited to be back and ready to go and lead the guys, It's been a good week so far. I got a couple more days obviously. I have to finish up strong.”

Purdy missed two games after the initial injury but returned for a Week 4 game against Jacksonville. He hurt the toe again early in that game, throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble in a 26-21 loss to the Jaguars.

Purdy said he felt fine going into that game and didn't regret the decision to play.

“I just unfortunately got caught in a bad position with my toe again and just reaggravated it,” he said. "That’s sort of what happened. Looking back at it, I’m a competitor. I want to go out and lead. I felt good that week to be able to go out and lead my guys."

Shanahan acknowledges that the team might have rushed Purdy back too soon that day but feels the situation will be different after he got six weeks off and has had three weeks of practice to get back near full strength.

Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 draft, helped the 49ers reach the NFC title game as a rookie when he won his first seven starts before an elbow injury in the NFC title game loss to Philadelphia. Purdy returned from that major surgery and played at his highest level the following season, helping the team reach the Super Bowl and become a finalist for the AP NFL MVP award.

Purdy’s production slipped a bit last season as injuries hampered the offense but he showed enough for San Francisco to reward him with a $265 million, five-year contract.

Purdy has a 103.7 career passer rating, averaging 8.8 yards per attempt with 68 touchdown passes and 31 interceptions.

He started this season by leading a fourth-quarter comeback in the opener at Seattle on the injured toe but has only been able to play one game since.

“It’s been frustrating,” he said. “Going into year four, I wanted to play my best ball so far in my career. I was really excited about it. I come in, play Seattle and win on the road and feel really good about the year. Then all of a sudden I'm dealing with the toe injury and it has been frustrating.”

The 49ers have had the luxury of taking their time with Purdy thanks to how well Mac Jones has played in his place. Jones has gone 5-3 as the starter, running the offense very efficiently with his 268.9 yards passing per game ranking second among all qualifiers.

Jones’ play has led to some suggestions that the Niners should stick with the hot hand for now, including from seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady on a Fox broadcast and from former San Francisco cornerback Richard Sherman.

But the 49ers believe Purdy gives them the best chance to win based on how he has played over his career.

“Any time a backup quarterback comes in and plays good, that’s all anyone talks about,” Shanahan said. “I don’t think anyone talks about what people have done in the past. Whether it’s Brock or whether it’s anybody. That’s just how the world works with media or anybody. So, I don’t look too much into that stuff at all. We all know how good Brock’s played in the past. I think he played really good versus Seattle and I think he struggled versus Jacksonville, which is why we shouldn’t have brought him back then. I know when Brock comes back, he’ll play the same way he always has, like a very high-level quarterback.”

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