Nick Wagoner
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is not certain if he'll play Sunday towards the Arizona Cardinals, however he made it clear Thursday that the choice will come a lot nearer to kickoff than it did earlier than final week's sport towards New Orleans.
“[We've] simply obtained to see come sport time how I really feel,” Purdy stated. “I need to play each sport. I need to be on the market. You solely get 17 regular-season video games, and each sport issues, particularly a divisional [game] going towards the Cardinals. If you happen to ask me, I might like to, however I am making an attempt to be good with my physique right here. You by no means know. We'll see when the sport comes.”
On Thursday, Purdy practiced for a second consecutive day on a restricted foundation as he works his means again from the toe harm he suffered within the season-opening win towards the Seattle Seahawks. Not solely did Purdy take part Thursday, however he additionally spoke about his harm for the primary time after that session was accomplished, providing a quick glimpse into the way it happened in addition to how he is feeling.
In accordance with Purdy, the left shoulder harm that bothered him popping out of that Seattle sport is now not a difficulty, but it surely's the toe that must be totally resolved earlier than he can return. That ailment saved Purdy out towards the Saints in Week 2, however he has made sufficient progress since then that it is doable he may play in Sunday's residence opener.
“It has been a day-to-day factor this week, and I really feel like I am pleased with the progress that I have been making with my foot and toe,” Purdy stated. “It is simply going to be a day-to-day factor on how I really feel. Nothing actually greater than that.”
On Sept. 8, the day after the 49ers defeated Seattle, Purdy's addition to the harm report got here as a shock when coach Kyle Shanahan talked about it on his regular day-after-game convention name. Purdy not solely performed the entire means in Seattle, however he additionally threw the profitable landing cross to tight finish Jake Tonges and made no point out of any discomfort in his postgame information convention.
Shanahan has pointed to a 7-yard scramble by Purdy with about two minutes left within the first half because the play Purdy injured the toe. On the play, Purdy broke the pocket to his left and was tackled by Seahawks security Julian Love as he fell towards the sideline.
Though Purdy did not present any indicators of being critically damage, he stated Thursday that he knowledgeable Shanahan and the coaching/medical workers that the toe was bothering him. It wasn't till after the sport that it grew to become actually painful, although, with Purdy including that he would not suppose it was anyone play that led to the harm.
“It was simply an accumulation of sure performs and totally different moments within the sport and stuff,” Purdy stated. “I completed the sport, and it was extra so just like the adrenaline cooled down, and I used to be like, ‘All proper, one thing's incorrect with my toe right here,' and clearly you go in and get an MRI and also you get a analysis and all that. … My mindset's all the time been like, I can play and you bought to actually take me off the sector for one thing severe, but when I can stroll and jog and throw a soccer, then I am good to go. In order that was extra so my mindset, and I did not really feel it till after.”
Because the 49ers ready for the Saints in Week 2, Shanahan stated on Sept. 10 that it was a “lengthy shot” that Purdy would play, all however naming backup Mac Jones because the starter for that sport. That turned out to be the case as Purdy was a pregame inactive, with Jones beginning and quarterback Adrian Martinez elevated from the follow squad to function Jones' backup.
This week, there isn't a such readability, no less than not but. In the course of the temporary portion of follow open to media, Jones has been first up taking the quarterback reps in particular person drills, whereas Purdy has labored his means in after. Jones stated Thursday that it's a bit totally different not having the knowledge he had final week, although he's making an attempt to not let it have an effect on him.
“As a backup, you recognize you are not enjoying the primary snap, and as a starter you might be, so you have to be prepared for each,” Jones stated. “On the finish of the day, all of the externals do not actually matter. You simply need to deal with the sport plan and get the whole lot tidied up by Sunday, and that is what I am doing. It is simply been like a traditional week for me and following my schedule and on the point of play if my quantity is known as.”
Purdy, in the meantime, is working by way of all of the accompanying points that go together with an harm that has been described by Shanahan as one thing much like turf toe. Purdy stated Thursday that he's nonetheless discussing with the medical and tools staffs doable choices for an orthotic, metal basis or different further padding for his cleats shifting ahead.
The harm additionally has left Purdy, who has by no means had a toe harm beforehand, with an elevated appreciation for the way vital his toe is in the whole lot he does as a quarterback.
“It is loopy simply speaking to receivers and ability place guys that you just hear them undergo a toe harm or whatnot after which they go, ‘No dude, it is one of the vital painful issues since you use your toe, you utilize your ft in each little motion, and you have to be explosive and go out and in of cuts,'” Purdy stated. “I positively have a very good perspective and appreciation for ensuring your toes are wholesome.”
