The San Francisco 49ers opened the season with two straight wins, which would signal a perfect start where everything clicked for most teams. The Niners are a little less fortunate. In Week 1, they lost tight end George Kittle for at least four games and quarterback Brock Purdy for one with a turf toe injury.
The initial prognosis was that Purdy would miss at least two weeks with the injury, a milder version of what Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is dealing with. However, head coach Kyle Shanahan gave an optimistic update on the quarterback’s recovery and status heading into the Week 3 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Kyle Shanahan Provides Optimistic Update on Brock Purdy’s Injury Recovery
Everything seemed to be going right when the 49ers walked out of Lumen Field with a Week 1 win. After all, they had just beaten a division rival on the road in a stadium where San Francisco traditionally struggled. Under Purdy’s command, they still haven’t lost.
Yet, two injuries quickly dampened the fans’ excitement. Kittle went down with a hamstring injury, and Purdy suffered turf toe and a shoulder ailment, which sidelined him in the Week 2 contest against the New Orleans Saints, opening the door for Mac Jones to play.
The expectation was that Purdy would miss two weeks recovering, with the team planning to handle his return cautiously to avoid aggravating either injury and risking a longer absence. On Wednesday, Shanahan said Purdy returned to practice in a limited capacity, a strong sign of progress in his recovery.
Wow font size 300 A anticipation throw with touch from Brock Purdy to Ricky Pearsall. Hit him stride too. pic.twitter.com/nE02njM44h
— Ted Nguyen (@FB_FilmAnalysis) September 9, 2025
Purdy has been a cornerstone for the 49ers since stepping in back in 2022 to replace the injured Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. Many believe he saved the jobs of Shanahan and John Lynch, who had missed on recent draft picks but nailed the last selection of the 2022 NFL Draft by landing their franchise quarterback. He signed an extension this offseason to cement that fate.
His return to practice is an encouraging development, and Shanahan even noted there’s a chance Purdy could suit up against Arizona in San Francisco’s home opener on Sunday. That would be a major boost for the 49ers, who are looking to stack early wins while waiting for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk and Kittle to return.
Brock Purdy “has a chance” to play Sunday, per HC Kyle Shanahan. https://t.co/1F4S5IbmJY
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 17, 2025
With Purdy, the 49ers have gone 24-13 in the regular season, including a No. 1 seed in the NFC in 2023 and an undefeated run to close out the 2022 regular season. Last season brought struggles after a Super Bowl loss, but a healthy Purdy could return to the playoffs in 2025.
