The San Francisco 49ers played the final few minutes against the Detroit Lions in Week 17 without Brock Purdy. They didn’t only lose their third consecutive game, but also saw their star quarterback finish the contest on the sideline.
After making it to the Super Bowl 58, it has been a rather disappointing season for the 49ers. Their playoff hopes were put to an end weeks before the conclusion of the 2024 NFL regular season. With little to play for in the season finale, the 49ers have decided to keep Purdy on the sidelines.
What happened to Brock Purdy? Why is he not playing in Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals, and when will he return from injury?
What Happened to 49ers’ QB Brock Purdy?
Purdy hurt his arm on a sack by Brian Branch in the clash against the Lions. He threw for 377 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions before getting replaced by Joshua Dobbs. He tried throwing on the sidelines but could be seen having a tough time doing so.
The 25-year-old spoke about his injury, saying, “Doesn’t feel the best… On that sack, I got hit on the back side and basically just my arm was on fire, kind of thing.”
“I tried throwing a couple on the sideline and I couldn’t at that point. It has nothing to do with tapping out of the game or anything like that. I love my teammates and I’ll go to the very end for them and this fan base,” Brock added.
Purdy’s words made it pretty clear that he had already played his final game of the 2024 season.
Purdy’s Availability for Week 18
Head coach Kyle Shanahan gave an update on Purdy’s injury ahead of the 49ers’ Week 18 clash against the Cardinals. Purdy will sit out at State Farm Stadium, alongside WR Deebo Samuel Sr., CB Deommodore Lenoir, OL Spencer Burford, and DL Robert Beal Jr.
Shanahan revealed that his star QB’s injury is not serious and is just a mix of a bruise and nerve inflammation.
“It’s really nothing more than like when you hit your funny bone. He did that, and when you get an NFL helmet in the wrong place, it irritated the nerves a little,” Shanahan told KNBR.
While giving his injury updates, the 49ers’ coach clarified that the players were pushing hard to play in the final game. However, the staff didn’t permit them to do so.
What’s Next for Purdy?
Purdy will become eligible for a contract extension on Monday, Jan. 6. He will make $1.1 million in the final year of his rookie contract. Considering the amount of glory Purdy has brought to San Francisco, the management would not let him walk away. The 49ers will likely offer him an extension during the offseason.
Overall for the season, Purdy is fifth in the league in overall EPA/DB (0.17) and when playing under pressure (-0.10 EPA/DB), as well as sixth when playing from a clean pocket (0.34 EPA/DB). Despite all the injuries around him, Purdy is still averaging 8.1 nYPA (third) and a 44.3% conversion rate on third downs (eighth).
Overall, he has a grade of 87.9 (B+), good for sixth-best this season according to PFN’s QB+ metric. When evaluating how much Purdy should make on an extension, his performance with elite talent (2023) should be considered just as strongly as his performance with injuries and offensive shortcomings (2024).