Nick Wagoner, ESPN Staff Writer
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After being sacked in a 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions late Monday night, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy felt a familiar and uneasy feeling in his right elbow. I felt it.
“I got punched in the butt and basically my arm was on fire,” Purdy said. “I tried to throw some on the sideline, but I couldn’t do it at that point.”
Considering Purdy suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles in January 2023, it’s unlikely that he suffered a similar injury on Monday night. That’s a question Purdy and those watching him couldn’t help but wonder about.
Purdy will undergo further tests on his elbow on Tuesday, but he and coach Kyle Shanahan said initial signs suggested it was a nerve issue unrelated to the ligament.
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“We’ve done some testing with the UCL stuff and it’s good in that regard,” Purdy said. “But I have to go in for an imaging test tomorrow to see everything.”
Shanahan said that before Purdy interviewed the media and spoke about what happened that night, doctors told him the injury appeared to be “nervous.” Shanahan said he “doesn’t think” the injury is a long-term concern, but further testing will be needed to confirm that optimistic outlook.
“Everybody knows when you hear about Brock’s elbow and things like that, you think of the elbow injury from a few years ago, just like I did,” Shanahan said. “But I talked to the doctors and they say he just got hit in the right place. When you get hit there, your nerves go crazy and you don’t have much feeling, but hopefully he’ll be fine.”
With the 49ers trailing by 12 points and 1:45 left in the game, Purdy fired his shotgun, scanned the field and then tried to run to his right. There, he was met by Lions safety Brian Branch, who wrapped Purdy up for a sack.
As Purdy rolled, Lions defensive end Pat O’Connor landed on top of Purdy and struck Purdy in the elbow with his hand, then hit him in the facemask. Purdy was slow to get up and went to the sideline, being replaced by backup Josh Dobbs.
On the sidelines, Purdy could be seen talking to doctors who were examining his right hand, wrist and arm. He attempted to throw several times but was unable to regain feeling in his elbow and did not return for the rest of the game.
At that moment, Purdy said his elbow “felt kind of heavy.”
“It has nothing to do with tapping out of the game or anything like that,” Purdy said. “I love my teammates and I’m going to fight until the end for them and this fan base and everyone. So not being able to finish the game hurts the most. But I’ll see you tomorrow. ”
Purdy tore the UCL in his right elbow against the Eagles on January 29, 2023. At the time, Purdy described the injury in far harsher terms than what happened Monday night. Mr Purdy said his arm “felt like it was being stretched out” at the time, adding: “It felt like I was getting a lot of jolts back and forth from my elbow to my wrist.”
Although the injury required a UCL repair and lengthy rehabilitation period, Purdy was able to participate in training camp last season and be back at full strength at the start of the 2023 regular season.
After the game, tight end George Kittle wasn’t too worried about Purdy’s elbow.
“I’ll worry about it tomorrow if I have to,” Kittle said. “Right now, there’s no need to worry about that.”
Monday’s injury prematurely ended one of Purdy’s best nights of the season. He was 27-of-35 for 377 passing yards with three touchdown passes and a rushing score before his departure, but he also threw two costly interceptions. Dobbs, filling in for Purdy, went 3-of-4 for 35 yards and scored on a 7-yard scramble, but the 49ers were unable to recover an onside kick in hopes of a late comeback.
Shanahan said Purdy’s availability for Sunday’s season finale against the Arizona Cardinals is undetermined and Dobbs is under consideration to start that game in place of Brandon Allen.
Purdy, for his part, hopes his elbow is healthy enough to finish the season against Arizona.
“We’re at a professional level and it couldn’t be better,” Purdy said. “So, for me, why not just play with my team and build momentum for next year with my players and declare to everyone here that I’m the best player here next year?” I don’t think he’s going to make a statement.”If I get a chance, I want to be on the field, that’s my mindset. ”
