The season began on a positive note with a Week 1 win over division rival Seattle Seahawks, but the quarterback's momentum quickly stalled. Purdy suffered a turf toe injury in that opener, an issue that ultimately sidelined him for eight total games.
When Purdy returned in Week 11, he played some of the best football of his career. The quarterback led the 49ers to six consecutive wins before a loss to Seattle in the regular-season finale. San Francisco still reached the playoffs, and Purdy finished the year with 2,167 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions in nine starts.
Purdy joined The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday and reflected on the roller-coaster nature of his season.
"Even before the season, I wanted to come in and play my best brand of ball," Purdy said. "Year four, I felt pretty hungry to do that. And we go into Seattle, Week 1, and we win the game, and obviously, I deal with the toe thing. It's like, 'Come on.'"
One silver lining for the 49ers was the presence of a capable backup in Mac Jones, who started eight games, won five, and kept the team in the playoff hunt while Purdy recovered.
"But I don't know—maybe that was God's way of having me sit back and see the big picture with everything," Purdy said, "and see another quarterback, have Mac come in, and how he ran the system, and learn from him, and how Kyle calls plays. I thought it was pretty good for me to sit back."
That time away may have helped fuel Purdy's strong finish upon his return to the lineup.
"Obviously, I wanted to be out there and to help my team win," Purdy said. "Then, when I did come back, it was like the chip's back on the shoulder, and you've got to go, and you don't know if tomorrow is ever going to be granted. You've got to go and take it every game, every week.
"So, I don't know—I feel like I just came back, played hungry, and it was a good little stretch we had."
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