Brock Purdy strengthened his chemistry with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk during training camp, after the San Francisco 49ers quarterback returned to practice following offseason surgery on his throwing arm.
That quarterback-receiver chemistry has only improved as the season has progressed. On Sunday, Aiyuk caught five passes for a career-high 156 yards and a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was his fourth game of the season with over 100 receiving yards.
"He's different from [WR] Deebo [Samuel]. He's different from [TE] George [Kittle]," quarterback Brock Purdy told reporters on Tuesday. "And so, sort of just taking note of that. And then B.A.'s just got length. He's got range. And so I know where he can get to and where I shouldn't throw the ball and where he's not going to be. And then obviously, the games and stuff, and the experience that we had last year together, we've built on that, I feel like.
"But throwing with anticipation is huge for me, and so he understands that. And when I let the ball go, he gets to where he needs to be, and we've made it happen."
"I have all the confidence in the world in the BA."
Purdy can't say enough good things about Aiyuk 👏 pic.twitter.com/1pUhQI5Cge
— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) November 21, 2023
Purdy added, "With B.A., I feel like he can cut on a dime and get in and out of things pretty quickly. And then, just his speed, his explosion off the line gets DBs to push back, and that makes it easier, too, to create separation. And as a quarterback, I can sort of see where he's going to be. It makes it easier for me."
Through nine games this season, Aiyuk has 831 receiving yards, putting him on pace for a career-high 1,477 yards. He has been a reliable target for the second-year quarterback.
"I have all the confidence in the world in B.A.," Purdy declared. "You watch the film, the separation that he creates, you get the ball in his hands, obviously, the second gear that he has to pull away from DBs or whoever's on the field. He does it all. And I think he's just one of the most underrated receivers, I think, in the NFL.
"We have so many playmakers like Kittle, [RB Christian] McCaffrey, Deebo, but B.A., and what he's done in his production as a receiver, he's got it. And so I have all the confidence in the world in him, and he's always where he needs to be. And as a quarterback, that's all you could ask for."