On Thursday, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan expressed optimism that quarterback Brock Purdy would play against the Green Bay Packers in Week 12. However, by Friday, the team had officially ruled Purdy out for Sunday’s game. According to David Lombardi of The San Francisco Standard, Shanahan was taken aback by how much discomfort Purdy experienced in his shoulder during Thursday’s practice.
“We thought he just needed some rest and weren’t really worried about him being unavailable this week,” Shanahan explained. “But when he got back to practice Thursday, it surprised him and us how bad it felt.”
In Purdy’s absence, the 49ers will turn to veteran quarterback Brandon Allen to start against the Packers. With uncertainty surrounding Purdy’s availability for the following game against the Buffalo Bills in Week 13, the 49ers are reportedly exploring potential quarterback options.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has reported that the 49ers could be a key contender in pursuing Daniel Jones, a former New York Giants quarterback, who will become a free agent on Monday after clearing waivers. “Soon-to-be free agent quarterback Daniel Jones will draw interest once waivers clear at 4 p.m. ET Monday,” Fowler wrote. An anonymous AFC executive suggested that 6-8 teams may pursue Jones, either as a bridge quarterback or a high-quality backup for a playoff contender. The executive added that the late timing of his availability could complicate matters, as Jones would need to quickly learn any new offensive system.
The 49ers might find Jones appealing due to Shanahan’s preference for mobile quarterbacks and the team’s immediate needs at the position. A former first-round pick, Jones was drafted sixth overall in 2019 out of Duke and has since played in 70 games, starting 69. Over his career, the 27-year-old has accumulated 14,582 passing yards, 70 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions.
Shanahan has a track record of maximizing quarterback performance, as seen with Jimmy Garoppolo, who led the 49ers to Super Bowl LIV. For Jones, joining San Francisco could present an opportunity to revitalize his career under Shanahan’s guidance.