Why Purdy will start 49ers’ final two games despite O-line injuries

The 49ers finished Sunday's game with, in essence, third-string offensive linemen playing left tackle and left guard. And things might be even worse for next week's game against the Detroit Lions. But the 49ers' issues on the offensive line will not change coach Kyle Shanahan's plan for quarterback Brock Purdy, he said. "People deal with that throughout the year on other weeks, too," Shanahan said Monday on a conference call with Bay Area reporters. "We've got a football team. We've got to go out, and we've got two games here and we've got to see what guys we can put out there and whatever we do, we're going to put a game plan together to, as best as we can to give us a chance to win." Purdy is just two games away from being able to negotiate a lucrative, long-term contract with the 49ers. Draft picks are first eligible to sign new contracts with their teams after three seasons. Purdy figures to become one of the highest-paid players in the NFL in the offseason after playing for a minimum contract since entering the league as the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. So is there any thought given to removing Purdy from harm's way because of the status of the 49ers' offensive line?...