Purdy's precision and command immediately reignite the 49ers' offense, showcasing decisive play and reaffirming his top QB status after injury.
After weeks of uncertainty, patience, and careful ramp up work in practice, Brock Purdy returned to the field in Week 11. He immediately settled the 49ers’ quarterback conversation. The third-year passer, back from a lingering turf toe injury that sidelined him since early in the season, delivered the kind of efficient performance that reaffirmed Kyle Shanahan’s confidence in him as the team’s long term starter.
Purdy completed 19 of 26 attempts for 200 yards and three touchdowns, finishing with a 133.5 passer rating in his first game action since the injury. Even with limited mobility and the team easing him into certain boot-action concepts, he commanded the offense with an unmistakable sense of control. His 61.9 offensive grade (61.6 passing) ranked ninth among 49ers offensive players. Purdy looked decisive, in command, and fully in tune with an offensive group that finally returned to full health.
It was the first time since Week 1 that Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and first round rookie Ricky Pearsall were all on the field together, basically the full vision of what this 49ers offense is supposed to look like. With everyone available, Purdy wasted no time showing why the coaching staff never hesitated to return the QB1 job to him once he was fully healthy.
Still, the road back wasn’t simple. Turf toe is notoriously tricky. For a quarterback whose mechanics rely heavily on drive and foot planting, the injury required patience and caution. The 49ers didn’t rush Purdy, and in hindsight, the slow approach paid off. He looked comfortable moving in the pocket and confident driving the ball outside the numbers.
None of this diminishes what Mac Jones did in Purdy’s absence. Jones kept the offense stable, efficient, and competitive and Shanahan made a point all week to praise how well he handled the job. Jones proved the 49ers have one of the league’s most capable backups, a luxury a lot of teams in the league don’t have. It also allowed San Francisco to avoid forcing Purdy back before the toe had fully healed.
But Sunday made something clear, that when Purdy is healthy, the offense is different. The timing, anticipation, and confidence all resurfaced. He was decisive. He was sharp. And he was the same player who earned the starting job long before the injury ever happened.
For the 49ers, Brock Purdy’s return was a reminder. Their QB1 is back, and so is one of the key pieces in the identity of this offense.