Brock Purdy participated in practice on a limited basis throughout the week due to a shoulder injury, but the 49ers shared promising updates about his availability for the game against the Bills.
The arrow is pointing upward for Brock Purdy.
On Friday, the 49ers shared positive updates about Purdy’s availability for Week 13 against Buffalo. Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Purdy is listed as questionable on the injury report, indicating he is likely to play and start against the Bills on Sunday.
Purdy was spotted throwing during Friday’s practice, while backup Brandon Allen worked with the scout team. Unless this is an elaborate strategy to mislead the Bills, it’s clear Purdy will play. His presence gives the 49ers a solid chance to compete against Buffalo—something that would have been nearly impossible with Allen at quarterback.
“It was good. It was great to have him back out there,” Shanahan said about Purdy’s performance in practice this week. “He was able to fully participate today, so it was a positive day.”
Purdy has been dealing with soreness in his throwing shoulder since Week 11, an injury sustained during a tackle against the Seahawks. While it’s unclear which specific hit caused the damage, it affected his ability to throw effectively last week.
The 49ers opted to start Allen instead of Purdy against the Packers in Week 12. With Purdy returning, the offense should be more effective at moving the ball. However, weather conditions in Buffalo could pose a challenge, as Purdy will need to contend with freezing temperatures and strong winds.
Purdy’s health will be put to the test in this game, as playing in such conditions requires a strong-armed quarterback to minimize inaccurate throws and turnovers—something Josh Allen excels at in Buffalo. While the weather poses a challenge for Purdy, Shanahan isn’t overly concerned about it.
“Everyone has trouble throwing in that wind, even when they’re healthy,” Shanahan said. “Brock wouldn’t be playing if he wasn’t fully healthy. So, the fact that he’s playing means he’s good to go.”
No matter what is said, Purdy’s shoulder will be carefully watched during the game to determine if he’s fully healthy or if he’s playing through the injury.
