There was a time when Brock Purdy needed the preseason to have any hope of making the final San Francisco 49ers roster. As the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft, he needed the three preseason games to show he’s capable of latching on.
Now, just three seasons later, Purdy is fully established as the 49ers’ starting quarterback following his 2023 Pro Bowl season and guiding San Francisco to the NFC title last year.
Does this mean Purdy’s officially sitting out Sunday’s preseason battle with the New Orleans Saints?
Latest on Brock Purdy’s Playing Status Versus Saints
Fans now anticipate that Purdy has earned some August rest. After all, the seventh-round find threw 4,280 yards with 31 touchdowns in his first full regular season as the 49ers’ starting quarterback last year. Plus, San Francisco likely won’t want to risk playing Purdy for fear of injury.
Not so fast.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan shared this telling detail ahead of the 49ers-Saints game: The two-time NFC champion head coach plans to play his starters.
And that includes his third-year quarterback, who will take snaps under center at Levi’s Stadium during the early portion of Sunday’s game.
With this decision, it’ll mark the first time Purdy will play in a live football game since the 49ers’ Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs back on Feb. 11.
Purdy did not take any offensive snaps in the 49ers’ preseason opener against the Tennessee Titans last week. Joshua Dobbs handled the load and finished completing 14 of 20 passes for 146 yards while throwing one interception in the 17-13 road loss.
Although he’ll play, it’s to be determined whether Purdy will lead just one series or play in multiple possessions.
Is Purdy Fine With Playing in August Again?
One reason behind the 49ers’ decision to play the starters, including Purdy? This gives Shanahan and the team a chance for the first-teamers to finally see another team after weeks of practicing against one another.
This preseason game comes off the heels of a canceled joint practice the 49ers and Saints were supposed to have in Santa Clara ahead of Sunday’s contest. Injuries put a halt to that original idea.
How does Purdy himself feel about getting inside the huddle before Week 1 of the regular season? He addressed that scenario with reporters Friday.
“It’s always nice when you get to go up against a different look, different guys and stuff,” Purdy said. “So we definitely missed that this week. But at the same time, we’re doing it for the right reasons. So I’m excited for Sunday to be able to get some new looks and being able to run our offense against guys that haven’t seen it every day. So that’s also going to be nice, but get in, be efficient, be clean with it, and compete.”
Even though this is a preseason contest, Sunday will mark the first time Purdy will take the field against the Saints. He didn’t play in the Nov. 27, 2022, home game at Levi’s Stadium in the 49ers’ last clash versus New Orleans. Jimmy Garoppolo handled starting QB duties that afternoon and finished 26-for-37 for 222 yards with one touchdown.
But Purdy would take the QB reins the following week against the Miami Dolphins, eventually finishing out the season as San Francisco’s starter and leading his first NFC Championship Game run.
