Less than 48 hours after their loss to the Minnesota Vikings, the San Francisco 49ers received an unwelcome surprise when quarterback Brock Purdy was added to the injury report. Coach Kyle Shanahan announced on Wednesday that Purdy is now in the NFL’s concussion protocol after playing the entirety of Monday night’s game. This development leaves backup quarterback Sam Darnold to step in at practice while Purdy recovers.
The symptoms of the concussion were not immediately apparent, as Purdy made it through the game without any noticeable issues. However, he began experiencing symptoms while the team was traveling back to the Bay Area. “He started getting symptoms on the plane,” Shanahan revealed. “We finally found that out when we landed. We were all pretty asleep, but then he got checked up yesterday, and now he’s in the protocol.”
The exact moment when Purdy suffered the concussion during the game remains unclear to both Shanahan and the 49ers. There were no obvious signs of injury when communicating with Purdy or observing his performance on the field. Although Purdy did attempt a pair of quarterback sneaks in the fourth quarter, he did not take many hits. The concussion diagnosis now places his availability for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals in doubt.
According to Shanahan, Purdy has enough time to clear the concussion protocol and potentially play against the Bengals. The 49ers have experienced a similar situation earlier in the season when guard Jon Feliciano returned to play after suffering a concussion. However, Purdy has a narrower window to recover due to the short week between Monday Night Football and Sunday’s game.
As a result of the condensed schedule, the 49ers held a walkthrough on Wednesday afternoon. Shanahan reported that Purdy was already feeling better on Wednesday compared to Tuesday and would participate in parts of the walkthrough while going through the protocol.
Unlike some cases, there is no set day by which Purdy must clear the protocol. Shanahan referenced a Thursday night game from last December when Purdy played without practicing until pregame warmups. Despite limited preparation, Purdy performed well in that game. Shanahan indicated that they may follow a similar approach this time if Purdy is cleared late in the week.
If Purdy is unable to play, the 49ers will turn to backup quarterback Sam Darnold. Darnold joined the team as a free agent in March and won the backup job over Trey Lance. While he has only seen limited playing time in mop-up duty this season, Shanahan expressed confidence in Darnold’s readiness if called upon.
“I have as much confidence in Sam as I could have with someone that I haven’t gotten into a real NFL game with,” Shanahan stated. “He was great in the offseason. He’s been great here in these seven weeks so far, and he’s always ready to go.”
Another injury concern for the 49ers is left tackle Trent Williams, who is dealing with a sprained right ankle. Williams did not play against the Vikings, partly in anticipation of the upcoming game and also due to concerns about the artificial surface in Minnesota.
Shanahan suggested that Williams could return to practice as early as Thursday, but there is no definitive timeline for his comeback. Acknowledging that Williams would not have been close to 100% if he had played against the Vikings, Shanahan and the team will evaluate his status in the coming days.
The San Francisco 49ers face significant injury challenges as they prepare for the game against the Cincinnati Bengals. Quarterback Brock Purdy is in the NFL’s concussion protocol, casting doubt on his availability for Sunday. Backup quarterback Sam Darnold stands ready to fill in if Purdy is unable to play. Additionally, left tackle Trent Williams is nursing a sprained right ankle, and the team will closely monitor his progress leading up to Sunday’s game. These injuries add further complexity and uncertainty to the 49ers’ preparation as they seek a much-needed victory.
Leave a Reply