Brock Purdy suffered a concussion against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 7 but was surprisingly cleared in time for Week 8. Purdy appeared to hit his head again on Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, but the San Francisco 49ers quarterback wasn’t removed from the game.
Brock Purdy Injury Update
Purdy took a hit from Bengals defender Trey Hendrickson late in the fourth quarter of San Francisco’s loss. His head slammed against the turf, and he grabbed at his helmet. But Purdy remained in the game and played another possession.
Given the increased focus on brain injuries, the NFL and the 49ers should expect to face questions about why Purdy wasn’t examined. At the very least, Purdy should have been forced to undergo a concussion screening on San Francisco’s sideline.
Here's #49ers QB Brock Purdy's head slamming against the field late in the fourth quarter vs. the #Bengals.
Purdy stayed in for the remainder of the game, which included another possession after this one.pic.twitter.com/BjbpziP2NO
— Pro Football Network (@PFN365) October 29, 2023
It’s become increasingly difficult for players to enter the league’s concussion protocol, get cleared, and play again the following week. That’s why it was so surprising that Purdy returned to practice on Thursday and cleared the protocol on Saturday — especially given that the 49ers played on Monday night.
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If the 49ers find Purdy suffered his second concussion in as many weeks on Sunday, he could be forced to sit out multiple games. San Francisco is entering a Week 9 bye, but it wouldn’t be surprising if the club held out Purdy in Week 10.
Think back to last season, when the Miami Dolphins handled Tua Tagovailoa’s repeated concussions with the utmost caution. The 49ers won’t risk Purdy’s health, especially with a capable No. 2 quarterback on their roster.
If Purdy misses time, backup Sam Darnold will start for San Francisco. Darnold, who spent last season with the Carolina Panthers, joined the Niners on a one-year, $4.5 million deal and thrived during the preseason, beating out Trey Lance for the team’s backup QB gig.