Suggestions that the San Francisco 49ers are done as a Super Bowl threat following Jimmy Garoppolo's season-ending injury are misguided, according to teammates of the stricken quarterback.
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan — who saw The Year of Trey Lance ended by a broken ankle in Week 2 — confirmed that Garoppolo had 'broken a few things' in his left foot after it became caught under Miami Dolphins defensive end Jaelan Phillips in San Francisco's Week 13 clash with former OC Mike McDaniel's playoff contender at Levi's Stadium.
With Lance confirmed as still being some way off being able to return to the fray, the 49ers are now relying on third-string QB, rookie Brock Purdy, who was taken with the final, 'Mr Irrelevant', pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
The Iowa State prospect showed few signs of nerves in his first 'real' appearance for the team, going 25-of-37 for 210 yards, five scoring drives, two touchdowns and just one turnover as the Niners came from behind to beat the Dolphins 33-17 and reclaim top spot in the NFC West division through 13 weeks of the season.
Shanahan has already played down suggestions that Lance may recover sufficiently to take the reins back from Purdy, and moved to do the same when it emerged that Garoppolo's injury was not as severe as first thought. Despite the real-time violence of the incident, the quarterback somehow avoided ligament damage to his foot and ankle, not only cracking ajar the window to a possible return this season, but ensuring that there would be no weakness in that area going forward, whether Garoppolo remains with the 49ers or finds a new home for the 2023 campaign.
“It’s not a Lisfranc, so they don’t have to do surgery on it — it’s still going to be a big recovery, but much less than what we anticipated," Shanahan confirmed during a regular midweek press call. "That's awesome news for Jimmy in the offseason, as he’ll be good to go right away, so it won’t be like last year. There’s that way outside chance (he could return this season), late in the playoffs or something like that, but it’s just an outside chance. I’m not really optimistic about that, even if they didn’t rule it out.”
Although San Fran moved quickly to sign veteran journeyman Josh Johnson as Purdy's backup, and the largely untested Jacob Eason remains on the practice squad, not even putting in a waiver claim for Baker Mayfield — who mutually parted ways with the Carolina Panthers within 24 hours of Garoppolo's injury, and was claimed, unopposed, by the 49ers' divisional rival Los Angeles Rams — suggests that the club is content with its quarterback room for the time being.
“Yeah, we feel good about it," Shanahan confirmed. "We’re trying not to make it a drastic change. We got to see a lot of Josh (late in 2020), and we like the player but, more importantly, we really like the guy. I think that’s why he has been around for so long and so many places continue to bring him back because he is a natural leader. He has a skillset that can go in and give you a chance to win and we feel fortunate to get him back here.
”However, we have a lot of confidence in Brock. He hasn’t played a ton of football, so there is some unknown out there, but we know he has the ability to do it, and we know he has the mentality to do it. He’s got good command over the team — our scout team, Fred (Warner) and all those guys, they love him. I don’t like how we got to this point, but we’re definitely excited about the options that we have.”
Warner, speaking directly after Sunday's game, was among the first to say he had no concerns about seeing Purdy under center.
“He’s played against the best defense in the league for the last 13 weeks," the All-Pro linebacker pointed out. "I have the most respect and confidence in him because I see him every single day on the scout team. The way he comes out and prepares and competes, the confidence he has, the swag he has, I’ve got all the confidence in the world in him. He’s gonna be just fine.”
Running back Christian McCaffrey was similarly impressed by what he had seen from #13.
"He did an unbelievable job," the former Panther purred. "Miami's not an easy defense to go against as a rookie quarterback, coming in when you weren't the starter... They bring a lot of zero, they bring a lot of blitz, so to operate and manage it at the level that he did is extremely impressive."
Defensive lineman Nick Bosa, meanwhile, clearly shares Warner's assessment of the new boy and the fact that the entire team needs to get behind Purdy if they are to make that playoff push.
"He looked like he had some dog in him," Bosa commented. "I love his mindset, he's super tough. He's not afraid to make mistakes. He gets playmakers the ball. He's our guy now, and we've got to roll."
Perhaps prophetically, Garoppolo went into the weekend not only confirming that Miami could have been a possible destination for him during offseason uncertainty over his 49ers future, but that Purdy had been doing everything right as a rookie thrust into the role of backup QB following Lance's injury.
“Brock’s come a long way, as a lot of these rookies have, but he takes it very seriously," Garoppolo said. "Give him a tip of the hat for that. It’s tough to come in as a rookie and be number two — you’re trying to learn as much as possible and, in a split second, you might be out there.”
With the trade window closed and worthy free agent QBs few and far between, the gig appears to be Purdy's, even if the circumstances are far from ideal.
"Sadly, it’s part of the game," the rookie noted. "I love Jimmy for what he’s done, taking me in and being like a brother to me. My heart feels for him. However, every single week, I act like I’m the starter, prepare like I’m the starter, in case my name's called.”
On the plus side for the 49ers as they prepare to take on Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this weekend, the style comparison between Purdy and his predecessor under center means there should be little to change in way of the gameplan.
“I think (the difference) was a little bigger from Trey to Jimmy, just in terms of the running element that Trey had, and how we looked at a gameplan, how we positioned all the formations to keep him as a run threat," Shanahan reasoned. "Jimmy and Brock aren’t necessarily running threats, so you don’t sit there and design stuff like that, but they’re definitely both mobile enough to make plays with their legs.”
Seemingly on his own 'road to Purdition', with a home stretch that looks set to pit his rookie QB against division title rival Seattle, then Washington, Las Vegas and Arizona after the Bucs come to town, Shanahan knows the risks that come with sticking by his number three, but also the potential rewards.
"I think, when you’re a four-year starter in a pretty big (college football) conference, you’ve been in (the game) a lot and in a lot of situations," he explained. "To be able to do that four years in a row, you understand how to play the game.
"Brock’s very aggressive in what he does. Sometimes that can keep both teams in the game, and that’s stuff that you have to work on as you play more, but that’s where you want to start with it. When a guy can make some plays like he does, he gives you a chance to win.
"He's had to prepare a ton. It’s real hard to do that week in and week out because it takes so much effort. I couldn’t imagine studying all week for a test and then not being allowed to take the test. Do it a few weeks in a row and some guys eventually roll the dice and they’re like, 'Alright, it’s not happening' and then, in the first quarter, it happens, and they can’t handle it. Brock was ready for it. He handled it and that’s what he has to do this week too.”
And that 'Mr Irrelevant' tag? Purdy shrugs it off as he would hope to do the Bucs pass rush this weekend.
"That's just where I fell in the draft," he insisted. "I'm very thankful that I got drafted, but I've always had confidence and belief in myself that I could play at this level... To get in, play and start next week, it's something I've always looked forward to. I've honestly told myself that it's going to happen, so, here we are."
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
49ers QB Brock Purdy on becoming the seventh NFL passer to make his first start against Tom Brady .
"I think it's cool, really cool. Dude has been playing football longer than I've been alive! So, yeah, to have a first start against the GOAT, it's going to be pretty cool."
MVP OF THE WEEK
Nick Bosa, DE
Bosa was seemingly everywhere against the Dolphins, forcing Tua Tagovailoa into a fumble that was returned for a touchdown by Dre Greenlaw, as well as recording three sacks — as many as earned him NFC Defensive Player of the Month for November — four quarterback hits and two tackles for loss.
STAT OF THE WEEK
4
The four turnovers forced by the 49ers' defense on Sunday was not only a season-high for 2022, but also the team's best tally since putting up similar numbers against the Rams in 2020. Although the team's second half shutout streak ended against Miami, all four turnovers came after the break and against a Dolphins offense that, to that point, had had the fourth-fewest turnovers in the entire season.
TALES FROM THE BAY EXIT SURVEY
Brock Purdy, QB
Each week Leeds Live poses five questions to a 49er. This week, we put our exit interview to quarterback Brock Purdy. Want your question added to the exit survey? Let us know in the comments section below.
How do you handle the uptick in media, more people wanting to talk to you or talking about you on radio, etc? I don't pay attention, really. I talk to my parents and they're obviously excited for me, but they handle that and I handle my thing, which is coming here, being another teammate, another day.
How much more complex is this offense to others you have been in? Obviously, it's a whole new level, a different style of 'ball. In college, you get the signal from the sideline, everyone looks to their respective coach, and they run the play. Now, it's getting the playcall in the headset, telling the guys in the huddle, breaking the huddle, those kinds of things are all different — and I like it!
You do a ton of preparation in the facility so, on a Saturday night before a game, is it about a movie and some food, or do you want to watch more cut-ups, etc? I like to leave myself an hour before bed where I can shut off, whether that's reading or on a call with my family, whatever, but I like to get away for a good hour at least. Other than that, it's all ball for me, but, even in college, there was always a balance there.
So, on Saturdays, do you get any (Iowa) Cyclone time? Yeh, I like to check in on my 'clones every Saturday. They're my boys and it's cool because I literally played with them last year. As time goes on, and guys graduate, it's a little harder to get into it but, when you know the guys that are playing, it means a lot to you.
You say you try to have an hour to yourself each evening, so do you get into any Netflix, video games or anything? Every once in a while, if we have three days off or something, I'll throw on a movie but, other than that, it's all studying. I've definitely got into reading, and the guys round here are telling me to watch Lord of the Rings , so I'm in on that.
TWEET OF THE WEEK
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