49ers QB Brock Purdy in concussion protocol

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is in concussion protocol, coach Kyle Shanahan stated Wednesday. Right here’s what it’s good to know:

What this implies for San Francisco

Darnold is the 49ers’ backup quarterback and Shanahan stated that the group has full confidence in him if Purdy is unable to play. The 49ers are nonetheless hopeful that Purdy can clear protocol by the sport. Shanahan even stated that Purdy wouldn’t essentially need to apply to have the ability to play Sunday, pointing eventually season’s Thursday evening win at Seattle, when Purdy performed with a damaged rib after not having thrown a ball at apply that week.

Purdy will likely be allowed to take part within the 49ers’ walkthrough Wednesday. — David Lombardi, 49ers author

Why the 49ers are nonetheless feeling optimistic

Shanahan stated Purdy felt higher Wednesday than he did the day prior to this and would even be permitted to be on the sector for the walk-through parts of Wednesday’s apply. That has the group optimistic he may have the ability to clear the concussion protocol and have the ability to play in opposition to the Bengals in Sunday’s sport. Additionally encouraging: The best way Purdy performed in Seattle final season. He suffered a rib damage within the sport earlier than that one and the 49ers performed the Seahawks on a brief week.

Not solely did Purdy not apply in full, he hardly threw the ball within the run-up to the competition. Nonetheless, he was mentally sharp for the sport, finishing 17-of-26 passes for 217 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. — Matt Barrows, 49ers author

Turning to Darnold

If Purdy can’t clear the concussion protocol in time, the 49ers will flip to Darnold, who’s been working the scout-team offense and dealing with mop-up obligation in video games to date this season. The 49ers signed Danold throughout free company as a result of they appreciated him popping out of USC and have been impressed by the way in which he dealt with Carolina’s offense in his six begins on the finish of the 2022 season. The Panthers went 4-2 in these begins with Darnold throwing seven touchdowns in opposition to three interceptions.

The 49ers famous that Darnold had the help of a devoted working sport in these begins, one thing he hasn’t all the time had in his profession. He must have a sturdy dashing assault at his disposal if he begins Sunday’s sport. Shanahan stated Christian McCaffrey — a former teammate of Darnold’s in Carolina — didn’t undergo any additional injury to his sore indirect area in the course of the Vikings sport and won’t be restricted in apply this week. — Barrows 

How Darnold stacks up

Regardless of the Niners ‘ two-game dropping streak, Purdy nonetheless leads the NFL in Anticipated Factors Added per dropback fee, through TruMedia, after Week 7. In fact, Purdy got here on sturdy beginning final season as he ranked fifth amongst all quarterbacks in EPA per dropback in the course of the span of Weeks 10-18 at 0.16.

Now the place did Darnold stand throughout that span because the Carolina Panthers’ starter?

Third, solely behind Jared Goff and Patrick Mahomes.

There’s in all probability a motive why the 49ers focused Darnold as Purdy’s backup in free company this offseason. — Larry Holder, NFL senior author

When the damage might have occurred

Purdy’s teammates stated they didn’t discover something flawed with the quarterback in the course of the sport or after it and most didn’t know he was within the concussion protocol till they arrived on the group facility Wednesday morning. The hit that triggered the concussion might have occurred on a fourth-quarter sneak on which the crown of Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks’ helmet slammed into the entrance of Purdy’s. On the following play, Purdy made the worst throw of the sport, one down the center of the sector that was intercepted by security Camryn Bynum.

Purdy stated afterward that he overpassed his goal, Jauan Jennings, on the play and threw to the spot he thought Jennings could be. Purdy additionally threw an interception, his third of the season, on the next drive, which sealed the sport. — Barrows 

Required studying

(Picture: David Berding / Getty Photos)