There is no other way to explain the avalanche of injuries to important players on this team year, after year, after year, after year.
It's time to call somebody down to Levi's Stadium to burn some sage, hold a seance, or maybe even an exorcism. It's time to do something
For the fourth time in the six seasons that Kyle Shanahan has been head coach of the 49ers, he will be forced to use a third starting quarterback to finish out a season. Jimmy Garoppolo, who had been playing in place of starter Trey Lance after his season-ending ankle injury in Week 2, left Sunday's game against the Miami Dolphins after the first offensive series with a left foot injury. The injury was initially reported as a broken bone requiring season-ending surgery, but Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday that Garoppolo would not need surgery and could be back in 7-8 weeks if rehab goes smoothly, ending his regular season, but putting him in position to possibly return in the postseason.
Brock Purdy, Mr. Irrelevant, the 262nd and last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft came in and led the team to a resounding victory against the previously 8-3 Dolphins and has been handed the postseason hopes of the franchise and its fans for the remainder of the regular season.
However, since the final whistle blew Sunday afternoon, Purdy's teammates have been nothing but effusive in their praise for the rookie QB, and to a man, it seems like this team has all the confidence that he can lead them to Glendale, Arizona and Super Bowl LVII.
Who is Brock Purdy?
Purdy grew up in Arizona, playing high school football at Gilbert, Arizona's Perry High School. Purdy contracted mononucleosis the summer before his Junior season, wiping out any opportunity to boost his recruiting profile at camps and causing him to miss the first three games of the season as well. He still managed to put up impressive numbers that year, finishing with 3,333 yards and 42 TDs through the air and adding another 842 yards and six TDs on the ground. Still, no major programs were knocking on his door.
Ten games into Purdy's Senior season, the only offer he had came from FCS Montana State. When it was all said and done, Purdy had led his team to the school's first Arizona 6A State Championship berth, and after coming up just short in that game, he was awarded the Ed Doherty Award from the Gridiron Club, an award given to the best high school football player in Arizona. Purdy finished his senior season as the Arizona 6A record holder for passing yards (4,405) and passing touchdowns (57), bolstered by a second-round playoff performance that saw him throw for 512 yards and six TDs en route to a 72-14 victory, but still now Power 5 offers.
On December 13th of that year, Purdy had finally started receiving some attention from Power 5 schools, including a "preferred walk-on" offer from Alabama. A day later, he received his first visit from a Power 5 school (a coach from Kansas), but an offer from the school didn't come until after the first day of the early signing period.
When it was all said and done, Purdy had scholarship offers from multiple Power 5 schools, including Alabama, but ultimately chose Iowa State.
Once at Iowa State, Purdy hit the ground running. He entered his true-freshman season as the third quarterback on the depth chart, but by the fifth game of the season, he had taken over as starter and would not relinquish the job for the remainder of his time in Ames, starting 47 consecutive games for the Cyclones.
With Purdy under center, Iowa State went 30-17, including a record of 24-11 against Big 12 opponents, and an impressive 16-1 record at home in conference play. Purdy can also claim victories over Power 5 heavy-hitters like Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, and Oregon.
Purdy was voted All Big-12 his senior season, leading the conference in completion percentage at 71.7% (5th-best in the country) and yards per game at 245.2. That type of performance was enough to impress Kyle Shanahan and the 49ers, who, as stated earlier, made him their final selection in the 2022 NFL Draft.
While Purdy's measurables are nothing to write home about (see graphic below), his leadership, grit, determination, and attitude cannot be understated. His future in the NFL is most likely as a high-level backup, but that does not mean that the 49ers' season is sunk, nor are their postseason or Super Bowl aspirations. That's not just the opinion of this writer, it's the opinion of that 49ers locker room as well.
You know what the combine doesn't measure though? Heart. The level of "that dawg" in a player. So I took the liberty of fixing it today:
If Purdy can perform to the level he did Sunday against the Dolphins by playing within himself and the offense, avoiding turnovers, and getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers, this team is going to continue to win.
It's time to Rock with Brock
Written By:
Brian Renick
A full-time educator, lifelong Niner fan, and Co-Host of the 49erswebzone No Huddle Podcast on the Audacy Network.
All articles by Brian Renick
Brian Renick
A full-time educator, lifelong Niner fan, and Co-Host of the 49erswebzone No Huddle Podcast on the Audacy Network.
All articles by Brian Renick