The San Francisco 49ers have been dealing with an array of injuries lately, but the situation got worse for them on Wednesday.
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan announced that quarterback Brock Purdy is in the concussion protocol. ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted that this makes Purdy highly unlikely to play Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals, leaving backup Sam Darnold as the likely Week 8 starter.
Brock Purdy is now unlikely to play Sunday vs. the Bengals based on this trend: No NFL player placed into concussion protocol this season has played the same week. The last player to be in concussion protocol who played the same week was 2022, when Kenny Pickett had a concussion… https://t.co/vYWBmhIkoX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2023
According to Shanahan, Purdy began displaying concussion symptoms on the plane home from Minnesota after the 49ers’ loss to the Vikings on Monday night. The coach maintained that Purdy does have time to be cleared before Sunday’s game.
Purdy started feeling concussion symptoms on the plane ride home from Minnesota. He will not practice today. It is unclear when Purdy suffered the concussion. He does have time to clear protocol before Sunday’s game https://t.co/4YN1RsSzcH
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 25, 2023
Purdy played the entire game Monday night, going 21/30 for 272 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions in a 22-17 loss.
The injury news comes at a bad time for the 49ers. Purdy had gotten off to a tremendous start to the 2023 season, but the Niners have now lost two in a row heading into Sunday’s game against the Bengals. Purdy’s potential absence will certainly make things more difficult as they try to put a halt to that streak.
