For the first time since suffering an injury in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Brock Purdy stepped under center for the San Francisco 49ers.
In the 49ers’ preseason home opener, No. 13 was the first quarterback on the field for Kyle Shanahan’s offense on Saturday night in Santa Clara. The Iowa State product wasted no time with a quick connection to Deebo Samuel on the opening play from scrimmage for a solid 25-yard gain.
Purdy wasn’t done looking for Samuel, hitting him again for a 14-yard gain on a screen pass later on the drive.
The sophomore quarterback spread the ball around, connecting with Samuel, Jauan Jennings and Brandon Aiyuk on his only drive against the Broncos.
Purdy also showed off a bit of elusiveness, avoiding a potential sack in the red zone.
Despite leading a clean drive down the field, Purdy and the 49ers’ failed to punch in a touchdown. After settling for a chip shot field goal from the two-yard line, Purdy’s time against the Broncos came to an end.
Purdy finished the game with 65 yards on 4-of-5 passing with a rating of 118.8.
Following Purdy’s preseason performance against the Broncos, Twitter exploded with different reactions, Here’s a look at what fans and analysts were saying on Saturday evening.
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Five-plus months after undergoing elbow surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament, 49ers’ QB Brock Purdy returned to game action: pic.twitter.com/viuJBOVHJH
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 20, 2023
This completion from 49ers Brock Purdy to Jauan Jennings on the PA rollout was FIRE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Xss56lybgy
— Brad (@Graham_SFN) August 20, 2023
Purdy Purdy good. pic.twitter.com/Ydk9IKSw51
— Matt Miller (@nfldraftscout) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy looked remarkably sharp for his 1st football game after his UCL repair. Such little data exists about performance for QB’s after this type of surgery but this certainly sets the bar high. #49ers
— Dr. Nirav Pandya, M.D. (@DrNiravPandya) August 20, 2023
Offense just looks right where it’s supposed to be with Brock Purdy, looks decisive and accurate on the short throws
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) August 20, 2023
Really solid first drive for Brock Purdy. He is clearly the 49ers' best QB, and there looked to be no residual psychological effects from his injury.
4-5, 65 yards and good, disciplined scrambling
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy's leadership was evident on that drive when he completed those passes to Deebo Samuel at the line of scrimmage and then willed Deebo to run hard and gain 39 yards after the catch. Can't teach that type of leadership.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy is back in the Bay
📱: Stream #DENvsSF on #NFLPlus https://t.co/L9mPiySUki pic.twitter.com/G5YxefE2c7
— NFL (@NFL) August 20, 2023
Big takeaway from the 49ers 1st drive on O was seeing Brock Purdy pass up the underneath option for the second-level threat. That's what makes this offense hum. That's what he did on the target to Jauan Jennings for a first down. Purdy makes the defense defend the entire field
— KP (@KP_Show) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy looked remarkably sharp in his first live game action since a major injury.
Jimmy Garoppolo (in 2019) and Trey Lance (last week) could not say the same. Both had ugly first outings back
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy’s first drive since UCL surgery: 4/5, 65 yards pic.twitter.com/BnTwcZt7N4
— KNBR (@KNBR) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy's arm talent was on full display when he completed those wide open short passes.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) August 20, 2023
WELCOME BACK BROCK PURDY pic.twitter.com/ovZleZJuXj
— 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙎𝙁𝙉𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙧𝙨 (@TheSFNiners) August 20, 2023
Zero rust from Brock Purdy. Zero signs of being timid. That’s exactly what needed to be seen.
— Jose Sanchez III (@JSanchezFN) August 20, 2023
purdy killing it. no doubt having deebo + the other starters helps but wow there’s really no comparison between he & trey right now. purdy looks light years more comfortable & fluid. wasn’t expecting that big of a difference but it’s obvious now https://t.co/eNXnmfy2Yl
— ashley aireonna (@ashaireonna) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy looked good on the first drive, and the 49ers set him up for success by rolling him out of the pocket and giving him nothing but short open throws. That's how you ease in a quarterback who's coming off an injury.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) August 20, 2023
Purdy had only short passes and screen passes and he was rolled out of the pocket to avoid the pressure. He was efficient in those short passes but stats can be deceiving as Deebo made up for most of those himself https://t.co/zypUSstePz
— Sidhu (@S1DHUU) August 20, 2023
Shanahan ran the quick game through Purdy and it looked great.
— ᵏʸˡᵉ (@49ersKyle) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy: 4 of 5, 65 yards. #49ers
— Eric Branch (@Eric_Branch) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy already looks like the best QB😂
my gawd it’s almost like he’s the best quarterback on the roster pic.twitter.com/0eoJNbM0TK
— Sterling Bennett (@49ers_Access) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy looks really good. Just as a whole. Love it.
— Evan Sowards (@EvanSowards) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy and the #49ers offense looked good moving down the field against the Broncos, until things got complicated in the red zone when it counts. Purdy was sacked and took a hit on a scramble. On the bright side, Jake Moody made his first NFL field goal…from 20 yards out.
— Rob Lowder (@Rob_Lowder) August 20, 2023
Yeah I’ve seen enough.
Wrap Brock Purdy in cellophane till September.
Could NOT have looked better.
That’s your QB1. Let’s go
— Carmichael Dave (@CarmichaelDave) August 20, 2023
Kyle Shanahan calls 3 straight passes for Brock Purdy to open his return and the 49ers pick up 2 first downs
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy's firsts since elbow surgery:
First scoring drive (20-yard FG from Moody)
First completions (4-of-5, gains of 25, 14, 21 and 15 yards)
First sack
First scramble (could have passed to Jauan Jennings at goal line but opted to scramble 7 yards to the 3-yard line)
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) August 20, 2023
Purdy acting like this is the playoffs lol
— John Chapman (@JL_Chapman) August 20, 2023
Purdy looking special and Deebo looking in shape 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/sy5dfvd3Ol
— Alex (@SadNinersFan_) August 20, 2023
An important play that went well for Brock Purdy there: Jonathan Cooper's sack.
That was the first time Purdy took a hit since rupturing his UCL in his Philly. The QB held up fine. Key to get that first hit out of the way without issue
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) August 20, 2023
Brock Purdy is the 49ers starting QB. They need him to play well to win a SB & not waste the prime of this fantastic roster.
The amount of people who seem to be rooting against him because, I don’t know, they bought a Trey Lance jersey, is pathetic.
— Al Sacco (@AlSacco49) August 20, 2023
Jimmy G leads a TD drive on 1st drive of preseason for #Raiders. Brock Purdy's 1st drive for #49ers stalled in red zone for a FG. Discuss.
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) August 20, 2023
He looks Purdy good pic.twitter.com/zuX1YMFqX4
— Bussin' With The Boys (@BussinWTB) August 20, 2023
Two boxes checked in the first drive:
1. Brock Purdy looked great
2. Jake Moody makes a FG#FTTB— Frank-Paul Santangelo Jr. (@fp_jr) August 20, 2023
Purdy is slinging that pill
— John Middlekauff (@JohnMiddlekauff) August 20, 2023
Still buzzing about Brock Purdy. I've never been so excited to see a drive in a preseason game that ended in a FG. Feels like you can breathe a huge sigh of relief as a Niners fan. I know we have been hearing he has been fine, but actually seeing Purdy do it is everything. #FTTB
— Frank-Paul Santangelo Jr. (@fp_jr) August 20, 2023
Do you guys think Kyle Shanahan tried to sabotage Brock Purdy by calling pass plays? I’ll hang up and listen.
— Al Sacco (@AlSacco49) August 20, 2023
That looked a lot like Purdy and the offense last season. Have to think with CMC and some playtime, the offense executes in the red zone. Very encouraging.
— Jason Aponte (@JasonAponte2103) August 20, 2023
Let Brock Purdy cook 🔥 pic.twitter.com/EoMQjLelWV
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) August 20, 2023
