San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy hasn't been perfect over the last three games, but branding his play as "terrible" might be an exaggeration. Purdy did not throw an interception in his first 13 career starts, including the playoffs. However, in his last three starts, opposing defenses managed to snag five passes from the second-year quarterback.
Center Jake Brendel, in a recent interview with KNBR, offered his perspective on Purdy and the impression he's left on his teammates since becoming the final pick of the 2022 draft.
"Honestly, from the first week he was here last season, I was just impressed with how much work ethic the guy has," Brendel said on the "Murph and Mac" show. "The guy's always in the building. The guy's always studying film. He's always looking over the game plan and the call sheet. The guy's crazy diligent.
"And it really just comes down to how much effort you put towards owning and knowing the system. And he's done an unbelievable job of knowing Kyle Shanahan's offense, front and back, and just making sure that he knows where the hot routes are, knows where the pressures are going to come from. So he really has done a great job since he's been here."
It's easy to forget that Purdy is only 23 years old and hasn't yet started a full season's worth of games. That's because the quarterback has demonstrated the leadership and poise of a seasoned veteran since stepping in for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo in December of last season.
"Obviously, he's a younger guy, but honestly, he controls the huddle like a five-year [or] 10-year vet," Brendel shared. "The guy really does command presence and command your attention. Honestly, he's really the best. Even last season, he was the best rookie I've been around. So I've been nothing impressed with the guy."
Brendel acknowledges that Purdy, naturally, would love to have back the recent throws that resulted in interceptions but commends the young quarterback for his overall performance. In all likelihood, every player in the locker room can look back at the last three games and find plays they would like to have back.
Fortunately, the 49ers are heading into their bye week, offering a valuable opportunity to reflect on their recent miscues and address any shortcomings before facing the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Brendel below.
