Brock Purdy set for urgent MRI scan after taking worrying hit to his surgically-repaired elbow
Brock Purdy is headed for an urgent MRI scan after hurting his surgically repaired throwing elbow late Monday night in the loss to the Detroit Lions.
The quarterback problem is just the latest blow in an injury-plagued season for the San Francisco 49ers, who missed this season’s playoffs.
Purdy’s injury nightmare came in the final two minutes of a 40-34 loss to San Francisco when Brian Branch took Purdy down with a sack on a blitz. Purdy rolled over as he fell to the ground and his right elbow struck the face mask of defensive lineman Pat O’Connor.
Purdy said his elbow was initially “on fire” and he will have to undergo an MRI to determine the extent of the injury.
“It doesn’t feel good,” he said. “But it doesn’t feel that bad, so we’ll see tomorrow.”
Purdy said initial tests showed no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament he hurt in Philadelphia’s 2022 NFC title game loss, and he hopes to play in the season finale on Sunday.
Brock Purdy is headed for an MRI scan after his elbow was ‘on fire’ following a blow on Monday
Purdy is fired late in the game by Brian Branch and he immediately underwent tests on his elbow
Purdy underwent offseason surgery but returned to start the 2023 season after extensive rehabilitation.
“I talked to the doctors, he was hit just in the right spot,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. ‘Touch the nerves. He didn’t feel much.’
Joshua Dobbs replaced Purdy and led a touchdown drive to cap off the rout, ensuring the Niners (6-10) a last-place finish in the NFC West after reaching the Super Bowl last season.
Purdy’s injury was just the latest to hit San Francisco this season, with stars Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa and Dre Greenlaw among the many key players sidelined for multiple games.
The situation was so dire that Purdy played behind an offensive line Monday night with third and fourth stringers at both left guard and left tackle.
Purdy overcame that obstacle early and played a nearly flawless first half as he threw two TD passes and ran for another score on the first three drives, posting a perfect passer rating of 158.3.
“We were in a groove,” he said. “At that point in the game we were just being aggressive and trying to win the game no matter what. The passing game went really well.”
Purdy speaks to reporters after the Lions game to provide an update on his worrying injury
It was a rough year for the Niners, with Christian McCaffrey also getting injured all the time
After throwing another touchdown pass on San Francisco’s first drive of the second half, Purdy struggled down the stretch and threw two interceptions to Kerby Joseph that ended the Niners’ hopes for a win.
That’s the kind of season for Purdy, who has failed to match the heights he reached last season when he led the NFL with a 113 passer rating and 9.6 yards per attempt while finishing fourth in MVP -mood.
Purdy’s numbers have dropped significantly this season and he has 20 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions. But even with the injury and San Francisco out of the playoffs, Purdy wants to play Sunday in Arizona.
“I want to finish the season with our boys,” he said. “For me, this is why I wouldn’t play for my team and try to get some momentum going this coming year with our guys and make a statement to everyone here and that this next year will be here that I’ll be a am a competitor? I will be on the field every chance I get.”