Purdy speaks on toe injury as 49ers play waiting game with QBs
SANTA CLARA — The 49ers may be leaning toward having Mac Jones make a second consecutive start this weekend, but weren’t ready to declare their intentions on Thursday.
Starting quarterback Brock Purdy was on the field during the media window, along with Jones and No. 3 quarterback Adrian Martinez. The 49ers even had Purdy make his scheduled appearance with the media after a limited practice session.
“It’s been a day to day thing this week, and I feel I’m happy with my progress I’ve been making with my foot and toe,” Purdy said. “Nothing really more to it than that.”
It’s likely coach Kyle Shanahan won’t have much more to say about it when he speaks to the media Friday, other than that Purdy will be listed as “questionable.”
“I’ve just got to see come game time how I feel,” Purdy said. “I want to be out there . . . if you ask me, I’d love to (play) but I’m trying to be smart with my body and you never know. We’ll see when the game comes.”
However, Jones took the podium as well, meaning Purdy’s right turf toe might not be ready for the 49ers’ home opener against the Arizona Cardinals Sunday at Levi’s Stadium.
Told by tackle Trent Williams to get out and “hoop” in last weekend’s 26-21 win over New Orleans, Jones was asked if he’d be hooping against Arizona.
“Hopefully,” Jones said.
Not that it will change his approach much.
“As a backup, you’re not playing the first snap, and as a starter you are,” Jones said. “You’ve got to be ready for both. The externals don’t really matter. You just have to focus on the game plan and getting everything tidied up for Sunday.”
On his weekly appearance on KNBR, Shanahan outlined his concerns and what it would take for Purdy to play.
“Any time you hear turf toe you get nervous,” Shanahan said. “You don’t know what kind it is, and the fact that he was able to do something this week is a real good sign that he’ll have a chance to go on Sunday.”
What would it take for Purdy to play?
“Protect himself, do things to be successful and that he won’t make it worse,” Shanahan said. “Once you do that you’re pretty much good to go.”
Shanahan said he is open to Purdy being a backup for a week while he heals more completely.
In his weekly appearance on the 49ers’ flagship KNBR-680, 49ers general manager John Lynch was keeping it close to the vest. Purdy still has more rehab time and could possibly return after missing a single game in New Orleans. He said it was an “organizational decision: as to whether Purdy or Jones starts against Arizona.
As with any injury, there are degrees of severity depending on the extent of the trauma. Cincinnati quarterback Joe Burrow had a case of turf toe so severe he’ll have surgery and miss three months of the season. Purdy has been walking without a limp and hasn’t been seen wearing the protective boot that is often part of the recovery process.
Purdy couldn’t pinpoint the time of the injury against Seattle. He told coaches his toe was bothering him but he was never removed from the game.
“I think it was an accumulation of certain plays and different moments in the game,” Purdy said. “It was the adrenaline cool down and I was like, ‘Alright, something’s wrong with my toe here.’ “
After the Cardinals, the 49ers host Jacksonville on Sept. 28, and then visit the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night, Oct. 2.
Although Purdy and Jones operate the same offensive system with little change in play calling and design, at least one Arizona player was willing to state a preference as to which one he’d rather see.
“Do you want a truthful answer?” Arizona defensive end Calais Campbell said in an interview on NFL.com. “The truthful answer is I’d much rather play against Mac Jones. It’s not a shot because Mac is a first-round talent. He just hasn’t been in that offense a long time… With Brock, he’s a master of that offense. He can make it go.”
Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon stressed that getting Jones instead of Purdy doesn’t change things much.
“He’s smart, has talent, with where he was drafted and what he’s done already,” Gannon said told reporters. “He’s accurate, more mobile than you think. He’ll stay in there and take shots and deliver the ball accurately.”.
In Week 1, Purdy was 26-for-35 for 277 yards with two interceptions and two touchdowns, including the game winner on a 4-yard pass to tight end Jake Tonges. Against New Orleans, Jones was 26 of 39 for 279 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.
Lynch compared Jones’ play to that of Sam Darnold, who played for the 49ers as a backup to Purdy in 2023 but didn’t get extensive time until the season finale, and the 49ers had wrapped up the NFC West and the No. 1 seed.
“Maybe it hasn’t gone the way they wanted elsewhere, but maybe if we put them in our situation and pour into them, maybe we can get all that talent that we see out of them,” Lynch said.
On the first of his weekly appearances, Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young is of the belief that the 49ers and Shanahan are where quarterbacks go to get well.
“Mac gets the benefit of being here and seeing how good he can get,” Young said. “Because that’s the promise. If you come here, we’ll see how good you are. And he’s willing to take that chance, so good for him.”
A.P. PhotoDefensive end Mykel Williams (98) celebrates with Bryce Huff (47) after Huff's sack of New Orleans quarterback Spencer Rattler.Mykel Williams’ big game
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“There’s going to be a roller coaster. Some games will be great, some won’t. But even in games which don’t pop off the tape, he’s going to find ways to get better.”
Practice update
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle, shoulder) did not practice. Jennings was clearly fighting both injuries against the Saints, even as he broke free for a 42-yard touchdown reception from Jones. Also not participating was Spencer Burford (knee), who may or may not need surgery in the near future.
Those who were limited in practice were defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos, Kyle Juszczyk (concussion), Siran Neal (concussion), Purdy, Jordan Watkins (calf) and Williams.
Rookie running back Jordan James (finger) was a full participant.
49ers mourn Jim Fahnhorst
Linebacker Jim Fahnhorst, who played for three 49ers championship teams in a seven-year career from 1984-90, died Wednesday at age 66.
Fahnhorst is the younger brother of Keith Fahnhorst, a 49ers’ offensive tackle from 1974-87.
