Life as an underdog means fighting off criticism well after earning one’s keep. San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is used to having to prove himself and he has done that once again this season.
And yet, the goalposts keep moving.
George Kittle’s Injury Could Impact Brock Purdy
Purdy was the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. After being thrust into the starting role, he took San Francisco to the NFC Championship Game. A year later, he was under center in the Super Bowl. Purdy had a down year in 2024 but is 6-1 this season and has the 49ers positioned for another playoff run.
It’s easy to write off Purdy as the product of head coach Kyle Shanahan and a strong supporting cast. When running back Christian McCaffrey went down last season, the offense followed suit. Backup quarterback Mac Jones keeping the 49ers afloat in Purdy’s absence doesn’t help his case, either.
Still, Purdy has played well in 2025, even without McCaffrey creating explosive plays on the ground; his longest rush of the season went for 24 yards. Purdy is operating without receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and first-round target Ricky Pearsall Jr. has played in just eight games.
George Kittle (ankle) likely a game-time decision for Week 17.
— Underdog NFL (@UnderdogNFL) December 26, 2025
McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle have been the beneficiaries. But with Kittle expected to be a game-time decision for Week 17’s clash against the Chicago Bears, San Francisco will be behind the eight ball.
49ers analyst Grant Cohn revealed that Purdy has struggled without Kittle in the lineup this season. While on-off splits and small sample sizes can be treacherous, the trend is enough to have the San Francisco faithful nervous for Sunday Night Football.
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“Brock Purdy’s passer rating when he throws to George Kittle: 154.9,” Cohn wrote. “Brock Purdy’s passer rating when he doesn’t throw to George Kittle: 89.9.”
By PFSN’s Quarterback Impact metric, Purdy has been quantifiably elite, ranking first among 44 qualifiers. Kittle, meanwhile, trails only Green Bay Packers star Tucker Kraft in Tight End Impact.
Both have missed time in 2025.
“Brock Purdy has played three games in his career without George Kittle,” Cohn added. “He lost all three.”
Purdy is obviously at his best when his co-stars are in the starting lineup. With Kittle playing at less than 100% (or not at all), Week 17 presents a challenge for San Francisco. Chicago has forgotten how to lose and can’t stop forcing turnovers.
Kittle’s potential absence looms large, but Purdy’s performance has earned him the benefit of the doubt. Week 17 shouldn’t be an indictment of his ability to captain San Francisco’s ship. Even so, the playoff implications set the scene for a challenge, and Purdy will be under the microscope, regardless of who’s suiting up alongside him.
