Nick Wagoner
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — For the fourth consecutive week, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was restricted in observe Wednesday. However this week that designation comes with a distinct description from coach Kyle Shanahan.
“It's going to be aggressive observe,” Shanahan mentioned. “We have simply acquired to place restricted if it isn't precisely the way it usually is.”
Shanahan added that the hope for Purdy this week is to proceed ramping up his workload in observe with the No. 1 offense with the objective of him returning to the beginning lineup Sunday in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.
San Francisco can also be hoping to get receiver Ricky Pearsall again from a proper knee damage. Like Purdy, Pearsall has been out since Week 4 and was restricted in Wednesday's observe. It was his first time taking part because the damage.
“They advised me he's wholesome, so I will see right this moment from my very own eyes when he practices, and I am positive he'll look that means,” Shanahan mentioned. “So long as he does, then he's good to go.”
Purdy, after all, has been out since aggravating a proper toe damage in a Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He initially suffered that damage in Week 1 in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks, missed two video games after which returned in opposition to Jacksonville.
Over the previous few weeks, Purdy has been a restricted participant in observe with the Niners toying with the concept of constructing him accessible as a backup. They've declined to try this, nonetheless, with the concept that if Purdy might be wholesome sufficient to play, he ought to begin.
“I feel every week it is gone higher,” Shanahan mentioned. “With final week being the very best. I imply every week has been completely different, so if he takes a giant step ahead this week like he did final week, he ought to have a very good likelihood to play.”
Whereas Purdy has missed the previous six video games with the toe damage, Mac Jones has stuffed in capably. In eight begins this season, Jones ranks second within the NFL in passing yards per sport (268.9), eighth in completion share over expectation (3.1), ninth in completion share (69.6) and tenth in yards per try (7.4).
Jones has a 65.1 QBR, which ranks twelfth within the league, and the Niners are 5-3 in video games he is began. Regardless of that success, Shanahan has maintained that Purdy will step again into the beginning lineup when wholesome sufficient to take action.
That is been a bit extra of a transferring goal provided that Shanahan has additionally mentioned that Purdy is unlikely to be “totally” wholesome once more this season and must take care of the toe the remainder of the best way.
Nonetheless, Shanahan reiterated Wednesday that the job belongs to Purdy when he reaches some extent the place he can play just like the Purdy the workforce rewarded with a franchise-record $265 million contract in Could.
“It isn't a tough resolution,” Shanahan mentioned. “It is simply extra about Brock's well being. It has been superior how Mac has performed. He has been nice. However we have got numerous confidence in Brock … so long as he is wholesome.”
For Purdy to start out in opposition to Arizona, he may also have to get via all three practices this week with out situation. Shanahan mentioned Wednesday he does not need Purdy to return again with out with the ability to play like he all the time does, which suggests utilizing his legs when required.
What Shanahan additionally desires to see this week is Purdy throw with the identical velocity he all the time has, transfer like he normally does and simply get a common really feel for a way shut Purdy is to his regular self.
In the course of the early open portion of Wednesday's observe, Purdy seemed to be doing all these issues and was a extra energetic participant in particular person drills than he has been in current weeks. When the time involves resolve who begins at quarterback in opposition to the Cardinals, Shanahan will lean on how Purdy fared in observe in addition to enter from Purdy himself on how he is feeling.
Shanahan acknowledged Wednesday that Purdy “felt a bit off” earlier than returning in opposition to Jacksonville. Shanahan added that if Purdy returns, the Niners are assured he'll produce.
“Everyone knows how good Brock's performed up to now,” Shanahan mentioned. “I feel he performed actually good versus Seattle, and I feel he struggled versus Jacksonville, which is why we should not have introduced him again then. I do know when Brock comes again, he'll play the identical means he all the time has, like a really high-level quarterback.”
Elsewhere on the damage report, the 49ers listed a pair of key defenders — linebacker Dee Winters (knees) and defensive sort out Alfred Collins (hip) — as restricted contributors with solely operating again Christian McCaffrey and left sort out Trent Williams not taking part due to veteran relaxation days.
