Brock Purdy is not at full strength as he heads into the San Francisco 49ers’ Week 4 matchup against the New England Patriots, following the team’s surprising loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 3. Fortunately, the injury he is dealing with is minor, and his offensive support is gradually returning to health.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an update on Purdy’s condition during a Monday conference call, revealing that the quarterback underwent an MRI on his back. Thankfully, the results were reassuring, with Shanahan stating, “His MRI was good, so we feel good about that, but he’s just sore today. Hopefully, he’ll feel better by Wednesday.”
Despite being without key players like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle, Purdy delivered a strong performance against the Rams, throwing for 292 yards and three touchdowns, all to Jauan Jennings.
Kittle, an All-Pro tight end, missed the Rams game due to a hamstring injury, but Shanahan confirmed that he is expected to return to practice this week. His return will be vital for an offense that may need to pick up the slack, especially with the news that defensive tackle Javon Hargrave is out for the season with a partially torn triceps muscle.
As the 49ers face a challenging Patriots defense, Kittle’s dual threat as both a receiver and a blocker could significantly ease the pressure on Purdy. With Kittle back in the mix, San Francisco’s offensive prospects will look considerably brighter as they aim to bounce back from their recent defeat.
