GLENDALE, Ariz. — After a frustrating six-week absence because of an injury, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy didn’t take long to get back into a rhythm Sunday.
In his first game back from the right big toe injury he initially suffered in Week 1 and aggravated in Week 4, Purdy misfired on his first throw but then completed his next three, including a 30-yard strike to tight end George Kittle for a touchdown on a play Purdy changed at the line of scrimmage.
It was the first of Purdy’s three touchdown passes as San Francisco cruised to a 41-22 win against the Arizona Cardinals. The Niners improved to 7-4 and 4-1 in the NFC West. Purdy finished 19-of-26 for 200 yards with no interceptions, compiling a 133.5 quarterback rating.
“Brock’s presence in the huddle is just so elite,” Kittle said. “He plays the game with this joy that’s so infectious, and it’s just so much fun to play football with him. … He was definitely feeling it. I think he’s got the confidence; he’s got his swagger.”
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Indeed, whatever nerves or rust Purdy might have had seemed to dissipate quickly in front of a large group of family and friends who made the trip from Queen Creek, Ariz.
The Niners opened the game with Christian McCaffrey’s 1-yard score, which was sparked by Skyy Moore’s 98-yard kickoff return. After beginning their next possession with an incompletion, Purdy connected on his next seven attempts.
Facing first-and-10 at Arizona’s 30 early in the first quarter, Purdy audibled at the line of scrimmage. He went into a shotgun formation and threw a touchdown to Kittle on the right side.
“He was vintage Brock,” McCaffrey said. “And that’s a huge compliment. He was poised, made some great plays, made some huge third-down throws, kept us in the game, was smart the whole game. … It’s really hard to come back in the middle of the year, and I think people kind of just watch like, ‘Oh, he had a good game, whatever.’ But to be out that long and to come in and do what he did today is extremely impressive.”
Purdy was largely unfazed by whatever Arizona threw at him and said he “didn’t even think about” aggravating the toe injury again.
Purdy was 7-of-9 for 69 yards with 2 touchdowns against the Cardinals’ blitz, and though he was pressured on 30% of his dropbacks, he still threw the ball to the sidelines and down the field. Purdy finished 10-of-13 for 137 yards with 3 scores on throws outside the numbers, tied for his most touchdowns on such throws in a game in his career.
He also went 13-of-15 for 133 yards and 3 scores when targeting running backs and tight ends. Purdy threw at least three touchdown passes with no interceptions for the ninth time in his career, tied with Jeff Garcia for the fourth most in franchise history.
Though Purdy has played in many big games, including a Super Bowl, he acknowledged his excitement about returning as the Niners aim to make a postseason push. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Purdy was “more normal again” this week after finally returning to his routine after missing so much time.
Purdy said it was “pretty special” not only to be back but to do it with so many family members and friends in the stands.
“It’s my first time missing that much time in a season, and for me, it was new,” Purdy said. “How do I handle it? … It was frustrating. I had to learn how to deal with it and mentally just take it one day at a time, one week at a time, and trust that there’s a process to this. … But overall, it felt good… I feel great now.”
But the victory came with an injury cost. Kicker Eddy Piñeiro suffered a right hamstring injury in the second half and did not return. Starting middle linebacker Tatum Bethune left early in the second quarter because of a right ankle injury and did not return.
Shanahan didn’t have any immediate update on the status of either but said the team “thinks” Piñeiro pulled the hamstring. Bethune will be evaluated to rule out a high ankle sprain. Both players are scheduled for further testing Monday morning.
