SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday that he expects quarterback Brock Purdy to be back in the starting lineup on Sunday for the team’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Purdy has been sidelined while recovering from a big-toe injury he suffered during Week 1 in Seattle.
“He looked good,” Shannahan said. “Got to do a lot more than last week and each day got a lot better.”
Wideouts Juan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall are both still questionable to return, Shanahan said.
Both Purdy and backup quarterback Mac Jones were limited in practice throughout the week. On Sunday, Jones aggravated the left PCL (knee) injury he suffered in training camp and has been practicing with a brace and a slight limp throughout the week.
Jones said Thursday he’d be available in any capacity the 49ers need him.
“I feel good,” he said. “It’s just like any other week — you’re going through the week, getting ready for the game plans as a backup or a starter. So I feel comfortable doing both. I’ll be ready to play.”
Jones, who grew up in Jacksonville and played for the Jaguars last season, is 2-0 as the 49ers’ starter. On Sunday, he engineered a last-minute drive that set up a game-winning field goal from Eddy Piñeiro. Purdy put together his own game-winning drive in Week 1, throwing for 277 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in a win against the Seattle Seahawks.
He said Thursday he feels better than he did a week ago. Unlike last week, Purdy has taken the bulk of the first-team snaps in practice. He said his toe has improved over the past two and a half weeks, but wouldn’t delve into how the injury affects his throwing or scrambling.
“To be honest, I’m not going to really get into all the little details of it and whatnot,” he said. “But I will say I feel better.”
Both quarterbacks have had to contend with missing pass catchers this season, with Jones’ outing Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals coming without George Kittle, Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk and Demarcus Robinson. Robinson, however, returned from a three-game suspension this week and figures to be in the lineup alongside Kendrick Bourne.
“Just having him back out and obviously seeing what he had done at camp,” Purdy said of Robinson. “And it’s the same thing — he comes back out and is feeling fresh and looks great and has great hands. So I’m excited to have him back and in the game plan.”
(Photo: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)