The San Francisco 49ers have been incredibly unlucky with injuries. Quarterback Brock Purdy is at a crossroads with the franchise – and is probably on his own.
In response to the extremely close Super Bowl defeat against the Chiefs, the 49ers wanted to attack big this year. However, just before the halfway point of the NFL season, the San Francisco franchise is at a crossroads. After losing in the Super Bowl rematch against Kansas City in week seven, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s team has a 3-4 record. The playoffs are definitely in jeopardy!
It’s not just the current situation and balance sheet that worries 49ers fans, but also the modest prospect of short-term improvement. The team, especially the offense around quarterback Brock Purdy, is currently suffering from incredible bad luck with injuries. The 24-year-old is currently almost on his own.
Since the start of the season, the team has been missing perhaps the best running back in the league, Christian McCaffrey. The 28-year-old is expected to return soon, but in his absence Purdy has lost one of his most important passing stations.
Receiver injured: Purdy is missing the passing stations
This season was over for star receiver Brandon Aiyuk with a torn ACL against the Chiefs. Only shortly before the start of the season, after a long poker game, the wide receiver agreed to a four-year, $120 million contract with the 49ers.
There is also great concern for his position colleague Deebo Samuel. The 28-year-old was already absent from the loss against the Rams in week three this season, and he was only able to play a minimal role in the defeats against the Cardinals and Chiefs due to injuries and health problems.
At the beginning of this week, the star wideout even had to go to the hospital because of pneumonia, from which he has since been released. Deebo is now back in team training, but it is uncertain whether he will be able to play against the Dallas Cowboys at the weekend.
After a gunshot wound: Pearsall, of all people, gives hope
The regular third receiver is Jauan Jennings, who is also questionable for the game against the Cowboys due to a hip injury. Purdy’s only regular starting point at the receiver position may be a rookie who was shot in the chest during a robbery two months ago.
That’s exactly what happened to Ricky Pearsall, who the 49ers selected in the first round of the draft. He was finally able to make his comeback against the Chiefs just 50 days after his gunshot injury – in a game that will be groundbreaking for San Francisco.
Despite a weak season so far, the 49ers don’t have to bury their heads in the sand yet. With a win against Dallas, with a little help from the Seahawks and Cardinals, you could even take the lead in the NFC West. However, if you lose, you risk losing touch.
Purdy needs to put the 49ers offense on his back
In the end, it probably comes down to quarterback Purdy, who has to find solutions for his likely missing passing stations. However, that didn’t work at all against the Chiefs last week. In the 18:28 defeat, the 24-year-old threw three interceptions and only completed 17 of his 31 pass attempts (55%). In addition, he had 212 passing yards, a low so far in the still young season, in which the young quarterback – just like his team – is lagging behind expectations.
In all key statistics, the former seventh-round pick, who surprisingly thrived in San Francisco, is well behind his numbers from the previous year. With seven interceptions this year, Purdy is already close to his nine from the 2023 season, and his QB rating of 91.2 is significantly weaker than last year (113). The young star QB’s lack of passing points is noticeable.
It remains questionable whether the personnel problems will change by the primetime game in Dallas (Monday at 1:20 a.m.). What is certain, however, is that Purdy will have to find new ways to be successful without his superstar receivers. He has already shown in the past that he can do this. Now Purdy must carry the 49ers offense on his shoulders.
