SANTA CLARA — Brock Purdy’s work in Wednesday’s practice comes with a different caveat than past sessions the past month: The 49ers intend to start him Sunday at Arizona, if all goes well.
That is The Purdy Plan, as outlined by coach Kyle Shanahan before Wednesday’s session.
“If he takes a big step forward this week like he did last week, he should have a good chance to play,” Shanahan said.
Purdy still will be classified as limited, and so will be wide receiver Ricky Pearsall in his first practice since a Sept. 28 knee injury.
As Purdy and his troublesome toe prepare to return from a six-game hiatus, the 49ers will put him in “aggressive” situations, although it will be “not exactly how it normally is,” Shanahan said.
Purdy originally injured his right foot’s big toe in the season-opening win at Seattle, and after a two-game hiatus, Shanahan felt he was “off” in the 26-21 loss to Jacksonville in Week 4.
Running back Christian McCaffrey knows a thing or two about comebacks, although he noted that Purdy is no stranger to them, either.
“The biggest thing if you are coming back, which I think he mostly is, it’s just about every day getting better, because when you are back, it’s time to go,” McCaffrey said. “He hasn’t changed at all. He’s been a great teammate and leader as he always is.”
And now Purdy has to string together three consecutive practices — and recovery time from them — to prove ready for a grand homecoming in his native Arizona.
“I can’t give you any answers to the test here, but anyone who starts, we have confidence,” center Jake Brendel said. “We just want to make sure the person back there is healthy.”
Purdy didn’t have setbacks working with the scout team, so now comes increased practice time with the first-string unit, and without a warning to stay in the pocket.
“If that was the case, he wouldn’t come back. If you have to tell a guy to not be mobile, it’s hard to be successful,” Shanahan said. “A guy has to be able to react on the field.”
As for the question about whether to start Purdy over a surprisingly efficient Mac Jones, Shanahan the answer is simple.
“It’s not a hard decision. It’s just more about Brock’s health,” Shanahan said. “It’s been awesome how Mac’s played. He’s been great. But we have a lot of confidence in Brock and we know he’ll play at a high level too, as long as he’s healthy.”
Since Purdy’s Week 4 exit, Jones has gone 3-3 as the 49ers have alternated wins and losses weekly. His 69.6 completion percentage ranks sixth among qualifying quarterbacks and his 97.4 passer rating ranks 13th.
In Sunday’s 42-26 loss to the Rams, Jones was 33-of-39 for an 84.6% rate that ranked as the 49ers’ highest ever in a game with over 30 attempts; the previous game, he completed his first 14 passes and finished with a 135.2 passer rating, the second highest of his five-year career.
PEARSALL’S RETURN
Pearsall has run on the side in recent weeks and last practiced in September, prior to the Sept. 28 loss to Jacksonville in which he injured the posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.
“He’s such a good player and provides such a spark for our team. And it’s just another weapon,” McCaffrey said.
Pearsall came up big in the 49ers’ 16-15 home-opening win against Arizona in Week 3, when he tallied 117 yards on eight catches. Over the first four games of the season, he had 20 receptions for 327 yards. The Phoenix native and first-round draft pick missed his first six games last season recovering from a gunshot wound through his chest, and he finished with 400 yards (30 catches, three touchdowns).
CARDINALS RECEIVER WOES
Tight end Trey McBride will be counted on by the Cardinals more than ever, now that they’ve ruled out three receivers: Marvin Harrison Jr. (appendectomy), Zay Jones (injured reserve) and Simi Fehoko (injured reserve).
Stanford product Michael Wilson could take over WR1 duties with 22 catches for 231 yards and a touchdown. Harrison, in three career games against the 49ers, has 10 catches on 19 targets for 143 yards and one touchdown.
Jacoby Brissett will make his fourth straight start at quarterback; Kyler Murray went on injured reserve last week after a 2-3 start. Brissett, a 10th-year journeyman, is 1-1 all-time in starts against the 49ers, including a Week 4 loss last season with New England.
POINTS OFF TURNOVERS
The 49ers have the NFL’s second-worst turnover differential at minus-8, with just one interception; the Jets are minus-10, with no interceptions.
Making matters worse, the 49ers’ 15 giveaways have translated to 51 points for their opponents, including two Rams touchdowns Sunday off two 49ers turnovers. The 49ers’ seven takeaways have led to just 13 points and only one touchdown, in Week 2 at New Orleans after a Fred Warner forced fumble.
The 49ers have had a positive turnover differential in just one game: last month’s overtime win over the Rams (plus-2).