Quarterback Brock Purdy has become one of the most talked-about players in the NFL recently. Once dismissed as “Mr. Irrelevant,” he has proved his mettle, but now he faces a new challenge: injury. Here is everything you need to know about what happened to Brock Purdy, who is filling in as backup, his current status, and the nature of his injury.
Who Is Brock Purdy?
Before discussing his injury and current status, it’s useful to recap who Brock Purdy is and how he rose to his current position.
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Purdy was the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft (often called “Mr. Irrelevant”) when the San Francisco 49ers selected him.
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Despite that low draft position, he quickly impressed. He became the starter for the 49ers, leading them deep into the playoffs, including a strong 2023 season.
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In May 2025, he signed a 5-year extension with the 49ers worth $265 million, reflecting his importance to the franchise.
So, coming into the 2025 season, expectations were high. Purdy had established himself as a top QB for San Francisco.
What Happened: Injuries in Week 1
Despite a solid performance in Week 1 of the 2025 season, something went wrong.
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During their opener vs. the Seattle Seahawks, Purdy sustained injuries to his left shoulder and more seriously to his toe.
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The toe injury is being classified by the team and medical sources as a “turf toe variant.” Turf toe is not just a sprain; it involves damage to ligaments at the base of the big toe joint, which can severely impact push-offs, mobility, and general stability—especially critical for a quarterback.
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Despite the injury, Purdy finished the game: he threw for 277 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Immediately after, the 49ers coaching staff expressed concern about his availability for future games. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan has said Purdy is a “long shot” to play in the second week, especially against the New Orleans Saints.
Current Status: How Long Will He Be Out?
Here’s the most up-to-date on Purdy’s status as of now:
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Purdy is expected to miss 2-5 weeks with the turf toe variant plus the left shoulder issue.
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The toe injury is the more concerning of the two, believed to be what will extend his absence. The shoulder is uncomfortable, but less limiting in comparison.
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Because of this, he is very unlikely to play in the upcoming Week 2 game. ﹘and possibly more games depending on healing.
It’s important to note that the timeline can depend heavily on how the injury responds to rest, treatment, and rehab. Toe injuries, especially turf toe types, are unpredictable. Swelling, pain, and stability issues can persist. Purdy’s ability to push off, plant, maneuver in the pocket, and move laterally will all be impacted. These are all critical for a quarterback’s performance.
Who’s the Backup? Mac Jones Steps Up
With Purdy sidelined, the 49ers will turn to their backup quarterback: Mac Jones.
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Mac Jones was signed by San Francisco in the offseason to serve as Purdy’s backup. He has prior starting experience with the New England Patriots and more recently with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
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While his performance has had its ups and downs, Shanahan and the staff have expressed confidence in Jones’ readiness. He’s been preparing in practice and understands the 49ers offense. ESPN.com
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Jones is expected to start in Week 2 (assuming Purdy is unable to play), and likely for at least these first few games while Purdy recovers.
There is also discussion of whether they’ll promote or activate other quarterbacks from the practice squad to deepen the depth chart, especially if the recovery takes longer than anticipated.
What This Means for the 49ers
Losing their starting QB, even temporarily, presents challenges. Here’s what the injury means for the team, both short-term and longer term:
Short-Term Challenges
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Offensive Cohesion & Rhythm
Purdy had built chemistry with his receivers, his offensive line, and the system. Jones will have to step in quickly with less first-team practice reps under pressure. That can affect timing and efficiency. -
Game Planning Adjustments
Kyle Shanahan is known for creative offensive schemes, often relying on the QB’s mobility, scrambles, and improvisation. With Purdy’s injuries, particularly the turf toe, Shanahan may need to limit designed movement or rollouts. More conservative play-calls could occur to protect Jones and mitigate risk. -
Other Injuries Complicate the Picture
The 49ers are dealing with additional injuries—for example, tight end George Kittle is out for “a few weeks” with a hamstring injury. Wide receivers and other skill-position players are also banged up.
This means that not only is the QB situation compromised, but the weapons around him may be fewer, making the offense less potent. -
Schedule and Tough Games Coming
In the next few weeks, San Francisco has games against teams like the New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, and others. How well Jones can perform in these games will be crucial to maintaining momentum.
Longer-Term & Strategic Implications
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Contract & Confidence: Purdy’s recent contract extension shows the team’s investment in him. An injury like this may raise questions among fans/media about durability, but unless the injuries persist or compound, it likely won’t change the long-term plan.
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Depth at QB Becomes More Important: The injury reinforces the importance of having capable backups. If Purdy is out longer than expected, or if he suffers re-injury, depth will matter.
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Management of Injury & Risk: The 49ers medical staff will need to carefully manage Purdy’s recovery—balancing between pushing for return (especially in high stakes games) and ensuring full healing to prevent long-term issues.
Healing and Prognosis: Can Purdy Return Strong?
What does the medical side suggest about how Brock Purdy might recover?
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Turf Toe Variant: This kind of injury, especially in a QB, is more than just rest. It involves inflammation, ligament damage, and sometimes joint capsule injury. Recovery, depending on severity, can take from a couple weeks to more than a month. If managed well, players generally recover fully, but pushing too hard too soon risks setbacks.
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Left Shoulder Issue (non-throwing shoulder): This is less alarming. It can affect things like taking hits, bracing when falling, and overall throwing mechanics via balance, but since it’s his non-throwing arm, it tends to heal more easily and with fewer risks to his long-term throwing capability.
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Timeline: As of now, 2-5 weeks is the estimate. If all goes well, he could miss maybe 2-3 games and return in relatively good shape. But if swelling persists, or the toe doesn’t respond to therapy, or if there are secondary complications (e.g. compensation injuries), it could stretch longer.
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Risk of Re-injury: Once a quarterback sustains a toe injury, especially turf toe, there is always risk when they return—especially if they are asked to push off hard, scramble, or plant in wet/slippery surfaces. Rehab will likely include strengthening, balance work, protection, rest, and perhaps changes to footwear or playing surface precautions.
Historical Context & Previous Injuries
To better understand what this means, here’s some context in Brock Purdy’s past injury history and performance when healthy:
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In 2024, Purdy missed two games due to injuries to his right shoulder and right elbow.
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He’s had serious moments where injury threatened performance. For example, in the NFC Championship Game (2022-2023 season) he suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing elbow. That led to limited throwing capacity in that game.
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However, when healthy, he has shown excellent QB traits: good decision-making, mobility, accuracy under pressure, and efficient games. His 2023 season, in particular, was marked by high performance.
So this injury is a setback, but not unprecedented in his career, and he’s shown resilience before.
FAQs
Here are some common questions people are asking and their answers based on current info:
Q: Is Brock Purdy out for the season?
A: No. All available reporting suggests this will be a multi-week absence (2-5 weeks), but not a season-ending injury.
Q: Will he be healthy by a certain date?
A: Hard to say. If the shorter end of the estimate is accurate and rehab goes well, he could return in 2-3 weeks. If complications, could stretch toward the 5-week mark.
Q: Can Mac Jones keep the team competitive?
A: Possibly. Jones has experience, has been in the system, and has shown flashes of competence. But replacing Purdy’s dual strengths (mobility + accuracy + leadership) is a tall task. The offense may need to adjust to simplify or protect him more.
Q: Does this affect Purdy’s contract or long-term standing?
A: Unlikely in any major way. His contract is secured. But performance after injury, durability, and how well he manages recovery will be watched. If he can come back strong, this might be just seen as one of many bumps.
Conclusion
Brock Purdy’s injury is a significant concern for the 49ers, but it’s not a catastrophe—yet. He performed under duress in Week 1, shows signs of toughness, and his backup is capable. Nonetheless:
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The toe injury (turf TOE variant) and shoulder issue make his short-term status uncertain.
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He is expected to miss 2-5 weeks, making him a long shot for immediate upcoming games.
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Backup Mac Jones will start in his stead, at least initially.
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The team will need to adapt: game plan, roster depth, and patience will be key.
For fans, keeping an eye on injury reports, practice participation, and medical updates will be important. Purdy’s recovery will shape how the 49ers’ season unfolds—it’s not just about one player, but the ripple effects of his absence.
