Brock Purdy has thrown five interceptions in the San Francisco 49ers' last three games, all losses. He threw none during the team's five-game winning streak to start the season.
It would be foolish to place all the blame for the recent losses solely on Purdy's shoulders. The second-year quarterback has played well, notwithstanding a few costly mistakes. Teammates and coaches have quickly pointed out that everyone needs to step up and play better to return to their winning ways.
Despite the 49ers' recent struggles, Purdy remains as confident as ever, and the team maintains unwavering support for the young quarterback.
"There's no crisis of confidence in Brock," general manager John Lynch told KNBR's Brian Murphy and Markus Boucher on Friday morning. "I do talk to him a lot. I talk to all our players a lot. Brock is who he is, and that's what makes him special. He's got a lot of belief in himself. He's an accountable guy. He takes a lot of accountability."
Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Purdy owned up to his mistakes, explaining his mentality while playing the position.
"There's a fine line of being aggressive [while] anticipating a throw, anticipating a window, and then being able to hold it back and being smart with the ball," Purdy shared. "So that's stuff that I've had to be real with myself with the last couple weeks, just watching the games and stuff.
"I'm an aggressive kind of quarterback in terms of anticipation and where my guys are supposed to be. I trust them, and I let it rip. But there's times where I've got to be smart with it and be willing to take the check down, and depending on the point in the game and where we're at, the scenario, the situation, all that comes into play. So I do have to be better at that for sure."
The 49ers' faith in their 23-year-old quarterback will not be swayed by recent miscues, especially considering Purdy's overall body of work since becoming the starter in December last season.
"I think Kyle has said it a few times," Lynch continued. "Yes, he has turned the ball over in some of these games, which you can't do, and he took accountability for that. He's also played some really good football. And so our belief in Brock Purdy is as high as it's ever been.
"He is a steady guy. You marvel at the way he takes challenges. And yeah, he hit a little adversity. That happens in this league. We've hit the adversity as a team as well. And so much of it is how you respond, and a lot of people run from it. He's kind of embraced it. He's taken accountability, put it on himself."
Purdy spent the bye week away from the 49ers, spending time with family in Iowa, working on a farm, and stepping away from football to gain perspective. That involved some work on a tractor. His fiancé, Jenna Brandt, shared the video.
Don't mind Brock, he's just helping out on the future in-law's farm during his bye week. pic.twitter.com/0MpEPCdKqs
— Ben Visser (@BenVisser43) November 2, 2023
Lynch added, "But Brock's going to be Brock, and he's a special human being, and we're fortunate to have him."
The rest did Purdy and his surgically repaired elbow some good, and the quarterback returned eager and focused for the upcoming matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Purdy expressed his readiness, stating, "To be able to step away from the game, take a breather, understand where we're at, what we have to do, was huge for me to clear my mind and then come back excited for the second half and the stretch of football that we have to play, some good football that we have to play. So I feel good."
You can listen to the entire conversation with Lynch below.
