SANTA CLARA – Brock Purdy is reprising his role as the 49ers’ starting quarterback Sunday, even if it could mean aggravating his turf toe (again) after being sidelined eight of 10 games this season.
“I’m in a really good spot. It’s the best I’ve felt this year,” Purdy said after fully participating in Thursday’s rainy practice. “When you play the sport, that’s just the case, guys are going to play banged up, dealing with things, going about their business, and doing what it takes.”
While Purdy said he indeed expects to play in his native Arizona against the Cardinals, coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed in a NBC Sports Bay Area interview the move to bring back Purdy and to bench Mac Jones, who has started the past six games for the 49ers (6-4).
“He made it a pretty easy decision for us. There’s no point in messing around. It’s time to go,” Shanahan said on KNBR 680-AM.
After the 49ers’ Nov. 2 win over the New York Giants, Shanahan said Purdy’s toe would not be 100 percent healthy the rest of this season, yet Purdy now feels close enough to play at his optimal level.
“Obviously this took me out of the game, so everyone knew about it, but guys are always dealing with things. That’s the nature of the sport,” Purdy said. “I’ll do whatever it takes to help lead this team, seven more games this year, make a playoff run and go achieve our goal.”
Purdy signed a franchise-record contract this past offseason (five years, $265 million), and he insists he’s not returning to justify the 49ers’ investment or short-circuit Jones’ career revival.
“I absolutely love Mac and what he’s done. He came in, played extremely well and kept our team alive and moving,” Purdy said. “I appreciate him for that and everything he’s brought to our team. For me, it’s been, ‘How do I feel physically?’ It has nothing to do with, ‘I need to get back out there for the political side of things.’ “
Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said Purdy “looks more confident, and that’s been the goal.”
It’s not about appearances as much as how Purdy’s right big toe responds to his running and scrambling.
“Dropping back and throwing, it’s been pretty good for a while,” Purdy said, “but to play quarterback in the NFL, things happen and to be myself and play like myself, I need to move a little bit. I just wasn’t able to get there for a while. Now I feel really good and ready to go.”
Purdy did not require surgery and said it was not recommended.
Teammates are excited for Purdy’s return — his second return, that is. Purdy came back from a two-game hiatus and not only struggled in a Sept. 28 loss to Jacksonville, but he also aggravated his injury when “I unfortunately got caught in a bad position with my toe.”
Tight end George Kittle, who missed Weeks 2-6 with a hamstring injury, looks forward to rekindling one of the best pass-catching tandems in 49ers’ history.
“I think that will get going pretty fast,” Kittle said. “I feel like me and Mac just started rolling. I’m just happy that we have two very talented quarterbacks that can both sling the ball and I’m looking forward to playing with Brock because I enjoy his energy and leadership out there.”
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall also is expected to return from a six-game absence, after injuring his right knee’s posterior cruciate ligament in that loss to Jacksonville. Said Pearsall: “I’m happy to see Brock back and healthy, and same with me.”
Three former players-turned-television analysts – Tom Brady (Fox), Richard Sherman (Prime Video) and Dan Orlovsky (ESPN) – recently said the 49ers should ride Jones’ supposedly hot hand (3-3 his past six starts).
“Well, Tom has certainly played at a high level. Richard has played at a high level. I don’t know about Dan Orlovsky but he talks at a high level,” general manager John Lynch quipped on KNBR 680-AM. “ … We certainly aren’t listening to them and saying, ‘Hey, help us make our decision.’ We have our own process. That’s up to Kyle and his coaching staff.”
ANOTHER THURSDAY INJURY
Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir surfaced on the injury report as being limited by a calf injury, the severity of which is unknown.
That makes eight players sustaining injuries in Thursday practices this season, or at least being added to the injury report after those sessions. Defensive linemen Alfred Collins, Kalia Davis and Keion White got hurt last Thursday, and other Thursday victims this season were running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Jordan Watkins, defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos and cornerback Upton Stout.
All players practiced Thursday, with only Lenoir, Pearsall, linebacker Dee Winters (knees) and defensive tackle Alfred Collins (hip) being limited.
PEARSALL’S COMEBACK
Pearsall also will be good to return Sunday, Shanahan said on KNBR.
“I wouldn’t say there were setbacks,” Pearsall said of his six-game recovery. “Yeah, we all expected me to come back earlier. But if you look at how PCLs recover, especially for skill guys like me playing receiver having to cut, it’s not an easy process to just turn around in a week and come back.”
Pearsall played through issues throughout college, and he missed just six games at the start of his rookie year following a gunshot wound through his chest from an attempted robbery in San Francisco.
“This is my first-ever real football injury. Yes, I’ve had a hamstring or shoulder but it’s never kept me away from the game; it’s been in the offseason,” Pearsall said. “As far as injuries that kept me away from football, I never had one in college. This is my first one in the NFL; well, the first one (from the gunshot), I don’t even count; I was just minding my business.”
SALEH ON RAMS DISASTER
Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh expected highs and lows from a young, revamped unit and last game undoubtedly was a low as the 49ers yielded six touchdowns in a 42-16 loss to the Rams.
Said Saleh: “It’s a young group. They’re eager to learn. They want to fix mistakes. Practice today was outstanding. They’re in a good spot. Obviously everyone has a bad taste in their mouth. When you get 40 dropped on you, it’s not fun.”