49ers Brock Purdy isn’t looking for revenge in upcoming Eagles rematch

Nov 30, 2023, 5:30 PM | Updated: Dec 1, 2023, 8:36 am

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 29: Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers walks into the medical tent on the sidelines after suffering an injury during the first quarter of the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

(Photo by Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

It’s been more than 300 days since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy went down with an elbow injury in the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles. But while the rest of 49ers Faithful hasn’t forgotten that dreadful day, Purdy has it clear in the rear-view mirror entering this Sunday.

Purdy and the 49ers head back to Philly for Week 13, a clash that could once again decide the fate of the NFC. The last time these two sides met, Purdy suffered a torn UCL in the first quarter after outside linebacker Haason Reddick hit his arm while in a throwing motion. The play resulted in Purdy being rendered without a functional right arm, forcing the 49ers offense to stall out on the way to a 31-7 defeat.

Now 10 months later, Purdy and Co. will have a shot at redemption in Philadelphia. But that’s the last thing on his mind.

"It's a new year."

Purdy shares his mindset heading back to Philadelphia following last season's NFC Championship Game loss pic.twitter.com/6jDJGhx36A

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) November 30, 2023

“I mean, yeah I got hurt there and everything, but for me it’s Week 13, we’re going on the road in a hostile environment. We’re late in the season, so every game is obviously big for us,” Brock Purdy said Thursday. “Am I going to go back and feel a certain way? None of that. It’s a new year, two new teams, slightly different in ways. That’s how I’m looking at it.”

That mentality has been echoed across the 49ers locker room, focused on the present, not the past. However, it’s unlikely that Purdy won’t feel some type of way re-entering the scene of the crime this weekend.

Most star players shed a bit of emotion upon first arrival, with former 49ers Jimmy Garoppolo and NaVorro Bowman doing so after suffering significant injuries. But while Purdy expects to have some pre-game jitters, this is a redemption story for him.

At least not at the forefront of his mind.

“I mean, usually every single game whenever I go in the stadium, yeah, I take a little moment just to be thankful for where I’m at and the game that I’m about to play in. None of that changes. Am I going to go in there and get all sentimental about, ‘man, I’ve come a long way since’ it’s not really like that,” the QB stated.

“We have a goal in mind and I’m trying to be the best version of myself every week. So, am I going to go into the game saying I want revenge and all this kind of stuff? It’s not like that, I’m just going to try to do my job and be the best Brock that I can be for this team.”

Brock Purdy has been remarkable since returning from UCL surgery in March, becoming an NFL MVP candidate through the first two-thirds of the season.

Purdy has posted 2,871 passing yards, 21 total touchdowns, and six interceptions. For reference, Eagles QB and current MVP front-runner Jalen Hurts has fewer passing yards and more INTS than his counterpart.

But while the statistical increase is a welcome sight, the Arizona native feels like an improved version of himself because of his increased understanding of the game as a whole.

Brock evaluates how he's grown since last season's NFC title game against the Eagles pic.twitter.com/xmWlSSuQ9X

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) November 30, 2023

“I think I’ve grown just mentally with this playbook, with the system, with just the guys that I’m playing with in terms of them knowing what they’re going to get from me,” he said. “I feel like at the time, I was still trying to find my way in the NFL and play consistent and prove to the guys that I can play. Now it’s all about how can I be consistent, every single drive, every game and sort of being able to handle all the factors that come with playing quarterback. The noises, keeping guys calm, cool, collected, like that kind of stuff.

His teammates would agree, always mentioning their QB’s even-keeled demeanor regardless of what’s transpired.

However, Purdy does admit that the trash talk between the two teams has been enjoyable. But only from afar.

“I hear stuff around the facility just in terms of like [WR] Deebo [Samuel] said this, or whoever said this, and I get a laugh out of it and stuff. It’s funny, but for myself it’s like I said, it’s another game for me,” he added.

That’s been the 49ers mindset all season? One game at a time. But this is not just another game, and Purdy knows that as well.

The Eagles are riding a five-game win streak into Week 13, sitting atop the NFC standings at 10-1. This clash with the 49ers would have been for the lead in the division if not for an overtime comeback against the Buffalo Bills last week.

Regardless, the 49ers are prepared for the full force of Philly, but won’t be labored by past transgressions from early in the year. Especially not Brock Purdy.

“Yeah, it’s going to be a tough place to play. They’re a really good team. They’ve found ways to win this year and they’re really good. So for us it’s another great challenge. But to say, have I had this game circled for the last year? Honestly, it hasn’t been like that for me. It’s been ‘How can I be the best [I can be], from the beginning of the season to where we are now’. I’ve taken it one day, one week at a time, and this is our next challenge, Week 13 in Philadelphia,” he said.