San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Thursday afternoon, sharing the latest on Brock Purdy. The quarterback suffered a toe injury in Week 1 that sidelined him for Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. Fortunately, the 49ers managed to win, improving their record to 2-0.
The encouraging news for San Francisco is that Purdy returned to practice this week, though he has been limited in participation as he works his way back. Shanahan has not eliminated the possibility of Purdy suiting up this weekend.
"He was able to get out there again today and be limited in what he did," Shanahan said. "And it was nice that he was able to get out and do some stuff, though. Anytime you hear turf toe, you get so nervous about that stuff. You just don't know which kind it is. And the fact that he's been able to do some this week, I think, is a real good sign and gives him a chance to go on Sunday."
Shanahan noted that the trainers will have to determine if Purdy can protect himself against the Cardinals while doing the things necessary for success. They also want to ensure the injury doesn't get worse.
"Once you do that, then you're pretty much good to go," Shanahan said. "Each player is different. There's some guys that there's no way you'd let them go unless they got into practice. There's other guys that, as long as they're good on Sunday, you would give them a chance to go.
"So each situation is a little bit different. But with Brock, we've been through a lot with Brock. He's played hurt. We've gone through weeks where he's tried to go and couldn't go. So, I really trust how Brock is what he tells me he can do, and if he tells me he can't do something, or if he tells me he can, it's always very honest and responsible, I'd say, in how he tells me. So, I feel real good with the communication on him with that."
Mac Jones started in place of Purdy in Week 2, delivering a strong performance against the Saints. However, his outing does not factor into the team's decision-making regarding Purdy's return from injury.
"It's nice to have a backup that you have a lot of confidence in, and that you know can play at a high level, but it really has no difference," Shanahan explained. "If Brock can go, and protect himself, and the trainers say that they don't think it's a risk, and Brock feels confident to perform, then it doesn't matter at all to me what the backup does. You'd go with Brock."
Both Purdy and Jones met with reporters on Thursday. Typically, only the 49ers' starting quarterback for the week speaks. Shanahan clearly has not ruled out Purdy just yet.
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