Practice is the time for quarterbacks to experiment and test the limits of their abilities on the football field.
"In the game and in the season, it comes down to protecting the ball every snap, every play, so you can't necessarily try those things out," Purdy said this week during a radio interview. "Right now, we can, and so my mindset right now is protect the ball, but let's be aggressive. Let's try this out. Let's figure it out."
Shanahan agrees with his quarterback's approach.
"I know, always, stats are made a big deal in practice and I know that'll stick out, too," Shanahan told reporters. "And we never want a lot of picks in practice, regardless of who it is, but Brock's never really had an interception problem. He's protected the ball pretty well in this league for his two years. He also isn't scared to let it rip, too.
"When you're in practice, if we were really trying to fix that, and if he had had a problem, and you come out and that's all we're focusing on, and he still has some stats like that, then that's something that concerns you. But that's something I really haven't been worried about with Brock, and that's why those stats are also something that hasn't bothered me at all."
Purdy threw a lot of interceptions last year during training camp, but the issue didn't carry over into the regular season. The young quarterback ended up having an impressive 2023 campaign, with his 4,280 passing yards setting a single-season franchise record and his 113.0 passer rating leading all qualifying NFL quarterbacks.
Purdy tossed 31 touchdowns compared to 11 interceptions last season, and he didn't throw a pick in his first five games. So, you can certainly understand why Purdy's coaches and teammates aren't too concerned over a few poor practice outings.
Related News
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
'We get to hit people in the face': 49ers' George Kittle sends fiery message to division rivals
San Francisco 49ers fans were understandably frustrated watching the Seattle Seahawks capture Super Bowl LX at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. Seeing a division rival celebrate a championship on your home field is never easy. 49ers All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner understands... -
NFL insider sends 49ers' Brandon Aiyuk blunt advice on how to force release
Like many around the NFL, NFL Network insider Tom Pelissero is growing increasingly concerned about San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, whose recent social media behavior has fueled speculation about his mental state. Pelissero hopes Aiyuk's actions are simply an... -
49ers' Brock Purdy addresses tough NFC West, Rams clash in Australia, George Kittle's recovery
Competing in a loaded NFC West won't be easy for the San Francisco 49ers. The team finished third in the division last season, behind the eventual Super Bowl LX champion Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams, widely viewed as the Super Bowl LXI favorite entering... -
49ers gem: NFL scouts still searching for the next Brock Purdy
To say San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy caught the NFL by surprise would be an understatement. As the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, the former Iowa State standout entered the league with few believing he could become a franchise quarterback—especially after the...