Brock Purdy is in the spotlight, a position the San Francisco 49ers quarterback should be accustomed to by now. As the last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, Purdy has faced criticism since becoming a starter, with many eager to see him fail to support their narrative that he is merely a product of head coach Kyle Shanahan's system and the talent around him.
Purdy has been tested this season, playing without his primary offensive weapon, running back Christian McCaffrey, and now without wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who will miss the remainder of the season due to a torn ACL and MCL. Other injuries have further complicated the 49ers' 2024 campaign, making it more challenging than a year ago.
Although Purdy is on track to break the franchise's single-season passing record, a mark he set last season with 4,280 yards, his overall numbers have dipped. His touchdown percentage has plummeted from 7.0% in 2023 to 4.1% in 2024, while his passer rating has dropped from a league-leading 113.0 to 93.7.
McCaffrey is expected to return to practice next week and could be ready to play as early as the 49ers' November 10 matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This would provide a much-needed boost for Purdy and the offense.
During an interview on Bay Area radio station 95.7 The Game, NFL analyst Brian Baldinger discussed Purdy's play, emphasizing the need for the young quarterback to improve his consistency in the second half of the season if the 49ers hope to make a playoff push.
"It's a little uneven," Baldinger said. "He's obviously missed some throws that we think he should make. When he gets a clean pocket, and his feet are set, and he's sailing a ball here or there, he's a little bit behind some guys. When you throw seven interceptions in the first eight games, that's never going to sit too well with anybody, even if they're not all your fault. But he hasn't been stick-accurate the way I think we have seen him in the past.
"But he's still getting the ball down the field. He's still averaging way over 8.5 yards an attempt (he's at 8.7). And anybody that's at 8.5 or higher, you're getting good [play], whether it's catch and run or whether it's deep throws, whatever it is. I mean, you're getting explosive plays in the offense. And they're still getting a lot of explosive plays in the offense [in the] passing game right now."
Notably, it took Purdy only eight games to throw seven interceptions this season, while he didn't reach that mark until Week 14 last year. Baldinger pointed out that Purdy is often tasked with making throws to the middle of the field, suggesting that this has contributed to his increased interception rate.
Additionally, Baldinger noted that Purdy is only 6-foot-1, a physical challenge at the quarterback position. He also recalled how the 49ers emerged revitalized from their bye week last season, suggesting that a similar turnaround is possible this year.
"I think he can play better, and I think he could be more consistent," Baldinger added. "And so, that's what I would look for in the second half."
The analyst is eager to see how Purdy performs against a Buccaneers defense known for its frequent blitzes and diverse looks. Baldinger will be at the game, calling the national radio broadcast.
"You see a lot of combination pressures, and so, I want to see how they kind of pick those up and how he handles that," Baldinger concluded.
You can listen to Baldy's entire interview below.
