Despite rookie quarterback Brock Purdy leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 33-17 victory on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, you can sense a shift in the hopes of The Faithful. The fanbase already had to endure losing one starting quarterback in Trey Lance. Then on Sunday, it watched another go down for the season when Jimmy Garoppolo exited after the first offensive drive with a broken foot.
"This is heartbreak," former 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman said on his podcast after the game. "This is terror. This is a nightmare scenario for the San Francisco 49ers. Jimmy G, who was saving the season, goes out, and Brock Purdy does a solid—very solid—job.
"Kyle Shanahan deserves a ton of credit for what he was able to do with Brock Purdy on short notice. Brock probably didn't get any first-team reps, I would imagine, the entire week. [He] went out there and executed, got the job done."
Purdy got the job done against the Dolphins, helping the 49ers earn their fifth consecutive win. But is this sustainable with a rookie quarterback at the helm of Shanahan's offense?
"I really don't know what you do," Sherman added. "You trust Brock Purdy. You cheer for Brock Purdy. You hope Brock Purdy works out because that's the only answer. That's all you've got. At this point, you don't have any other choice."
Sherman shifted the discussion to the No. 1 defense in the NFL, praising some of his former teammates like Arik Armstead and Jimmie Ward. He focused on another name too. Defensive end Nick Bosa recorded three sacks against the Dolphins, increasing his season total to an impressive 14.5.
Bosa earned Pro Bowl honors last season. However, Sherman believes the talented pass rusher deserves so much more this season.
"Nicholas John Bosa, the player of the year," Sherman declared. "The Defensive Player of the Year, Nicholas John Bosa. They didn't even give him Comeback Player [of the Year last season]. Like, he should have been first-team All-Pro.
"Don't get me started on Nicholas John Bosa. He better be a first-team All-Pro this year, and if he's not at least first or second in that Defensive Player of the Year vote, you guys are doing it wrong."
Bosa is one sack away from matching his career-high 15.5 total from last season, and the defensive end still has five games to play. Next, he'll have an opportunity to chase down a future Hall of Fame quarterback in Tom Brady, when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers visit Levi's Stadium on Sunday.
You can listen to Sherman's entire podcast below.