San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan joined Bay Area radio station KNBR on Thursday, confirming an earlier report from Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area that Brock Purdy will start against the Arizona Cardinals.
Purdy has not played since Week 4, when he aggravated the turf toe injury suffered initially in the season opener. Those remain the only two games he has appeared in this season.
Shanahan was asked if there was any significance to announcing Purdy as the starter on Thursday instead of waiting longer and potentially keeping the Cardinals guessing.
"No. He's not limited at all," Shanahan said. "He had a full practice today. I thought he was real close last week. Last week, we were considering it, even getting him up at least to be a backup and stuff, but we thought it would help him one more week.
"Just speaking with him and stuff, and watching him this whole week, I couldn't agree more because I think he looked great in practice this week. And I can't tell any difference in how Brock's always been. So, I think he made it a pretty easy decision for us. So, no point in messing around. It's time to go."
Shanahan added that Purdy was able to push himself more in practice this week and felt good afterward, signaling that he's ready to return.
With Purdy returning to the lineup, Mac Jones will shift back to his backup role after starting eight games—six of them consecutively—this season.
Ricky Pearsall also set to return
Ricky Pearsall is another 49ers player who has been sidelined since Week 4 due to a knee injury. Shanahan shared that the second-year wide receiver is also expected to return against the Cardinals.
Pearsall practiced this week for the first time since sustaining the injury, a positive sign for San Francisco's receiving corps.
"He's had a good week," Shanahan said. "He's done some good things. We've got to be smart with him, easing him back in. That's why he's been limited this week. You can't just throw a guy out to run all these routes as much as you do when you've been out six weeks. But he did a little on Wednesday, did a little bit more today, but he'll be good to go for Sunday."