Injuries pile up, 49ers uncertain QB Brock Purdy can return Sunday

Nov 27, 2024, 4:09 PM

Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers throws a pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the firs...

(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Sactown Sports

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was limited with the right shoulder injury that sidelined him last week and there is growing concern about the long-term status of left tackle Trent Williams.

Wednesday’s practice was not the start to the NFL workweek head coach Kyle Shanahan had hoped after Purdy was unable to bounce back from a shoulder injury in Week 11. Brandon Allen started at Green Bay and the 49ers (5-6) lost 38-10 with the backup-turned-starter committing three turnovers.

Williams was reportedly spotted in the locker room with a knee scooter and is experiencing pain walking. He played through an ankle injury against the Seattle Seahawks Nov. 17.

#49ers QB Brock Purdy threw one pass during the early open portion of Wednesday’s practice. It was a short screen during the third period. He did usual handoff work in run install but no other throwing in the four periods we got to see. He stood and watched the rest. pic.twitter.com/AC5blP1oPB

— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) November 27, 2024

Defensive end Nick Bosa (hip, oblique) also missed practice Wednesday, leaving the 49ers to spend the holiday plotting to play the Buffalo Bills (9-2) without the three Pro Bowlers again.

“I don’t know anyone who gets Thanksgiving off unless maybe you have a Monday night game. You just start a lot earlier and get the players out,” Shanahan said. “We cram everything in so the players get out, tries to be home with the family by 5. I usually get home by 7 and they’re all mad at me, then get back to red-zone (installation).”

The 49ers are in danger of a three-game losing streak for the first time since Oct. 2021.

Injuries have been a common thread since September when running back Christian McCaffrey was a surprise scratch with an Achilles injury for the opener. Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (ACL) is out for the season at a position dinged from top to bottom.

Star linebacker Fred Warner also is ailing and said Wednesday that he fractured a bone in his ankle on Sept. 29 against the New England Patriots. The game against the Bills will mark his eighth straight game playing with the injury.

“It’s something I deal with every game,” Warner said. “I get on that table before every game and get it shot up every single game just to be able to roll. But it’s not an excuse. It’s just what it is. That’s the NFL. You’re not going to be healthy. You’ve got to go out there, you’ve got to find ways to execute, to play at a high level and to win every single week.”

Shanahan wasn’t interested in injury talk. He said the 49ers have not played well in the past two weeks, and puts part of his focus on getting more out of the running game with snow in the forecast on Sunday night.

He’s not in agreement with pundits who doubt McCaffrey’s ability early into his return from injured reserve, with a per-carry average of 3.5 yards compared to 5.4 in 2023.

“The speculation on Christian is a little unfair to him,” Shanahan said. “Christian is playing very well. He’s playing his ass off. To think a guy who misses the entire offseason is going to come back and be the exact same the day he comes back would be unfair to any player in the world.”

San Francisco opened the 21-day practice window for linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who tore his Achilles in the Super Bowl in February. His return date is unclear.

–Field Level Media

More on the San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are down–but are they out?

Sitting at 5-6 and dealing with a list of injuries to key players, things look bleak for the 49ers as they head into a snowy Sunday night football matchup against the powerhouse Buffalo Bills.

During Wednesday morning’s edition of The Carmichael Dave Show with Jason Ross, former NFL quarterback Sean Salisbury joined the show to share his thoughts on San Francisco’s rough start to the season and explain why he feels the 49ers still have a chance to play postseason football.

Be sure to check out the full interview with Sean Salisbury on the Sactown Sports 1140 YouTube page.