The San Francisco 49ers and quarterback Brock Purdy got good news on his injured right elbow.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Tuesday following the 49ers’ 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night told reporters Purdy has a right elbow contusion with nerve inflammation. The injury isn’t considered to be a long-term issue, but it is likely to keep Purdy out of the team’s Week 18 finale against the Arizona Cardinals.
Shanahan also said Purdy avoided any issues with his right UCL, which he had surgically repaired after tearing it in the 2022 NFC championship game.
Purdy took a hit to the elbow late in Monday’s loss when Lions safety Brian Branch got free on a blitz off of Purdy’s blind side. It looked mostly innocuous when it happened, but Purdy was shown by the television broadcast being tended to by trainers and unsuccessfully trying to throw a football.
He finished Monday’s game 27-of-35 for 377 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
If his season is over, he’ll have finished the year with a 65.9 percent completion rate, 3,864 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and a 96.1 passer rating. He also rushed for 323 yards and five touchdowns.
Next up for the QB is a contract extension, which he’s eligible for as soon as Week 18 ends. That contract negotiation will dominate headlines for the 49ers until it gets hammered out.
As for Week 18, it appears Joshua Dobbs is in line to get the start against the Cardinals after performing well in Purdy’s stead against Detroit. Dobbs went 3-of-4 for 34 yards and a seven-yard rushing touchdown.