Nick Bosa was also ruled out, while Trent Williams is questionable
The San Francisco 49ers practiced Friday but were arguably without their three most important players: Brock Purdy (shoulder), Nick Bosa (hip/oblique), and Trent Williams (ankle). All were not spotted on the field.
Earlier in the day, general manager John Lynch said that Friday’s practice would tell us about Purdy’s availability on Sunday. Well, when the quarterback didn’t practice all week, that says plenty.
Kyle Shanahan ruled Purdy and Bosa out for Sunday, while Williams is questionable. Jon Feliciano is also questionable.
Trying to read between the lines of the information we have access to, the 49ers need to find out how much pain Purdy can tolerate. Like Williams’ ankle last week, Purdy likely needs an injection in his shoulder to play through an injury.
The risk is furthering the injury and a Grade 1 sprain turns into something more severe like a fracture or a complete tear of a ligament, tendon, or muscle. Do the 49ers want to win this weekend? Of course. Is it worth jeopardizing the future of a quarterback you plan on making the face of your future? That’s the million-dollar question the Niners faced, and they decided against any further short-term damage to their long-term answer at quarterback.
Shanahan doesn’t believe there’s a long-term concern with Purdy’s shoulder:
“We got the MRI on Monday. We thought he just needed some rest and really weren’t concerned about him not being ready this week. But when he started up Thursday, it surprised him, surprised us, how it felt, so we had to shut him down. So, I really don’t know what to think of it. An MRI doesn’t look like that. It should be all right, but after the way it responded this week, it’s really up in the air for next week. So, we’ll have to see on Monday.”
Purdy could not recall which play he was injured. He did complain about how tight his shoulder was throughout the game, which is why Purdy continued to throw and stay loose during the game.
Brandon Allen will start. Shanahan said, “Guys believe in him” and that Allen “gives us the best chance to win.” Shanahan said there won’t be a big adjustment to the game plan despite “preparing for Brock to go” after “being surprised about this yesterday.”
The 49ers will enter the biggest game of the season without their quarterback and edge rusher, who consistently finishes in the top five of the Defensive Player of the Year voting.
The following players were ruled out:
CB Charvarius Ward
WR Jacob Cowing
DE Nick Bosa
QB Brock Purdy
Green Bay Packers’ head coach Matt LaFleur doesn’t believe the 49ers offense would change much under Brandon Allen: “I know Brandon (Allen). I was with him in L.A. (in 2017). He’s been in the league a long time. But I wouldn’t expect their offense to change a whole bunch.”
The running game has been subpar this year. On Thursday, Chris Foerster said that Jaylon Moore “did a serviceable job, at pass pro he did a really good job.” So, it’s safe to say the running game would take a step back with Moore filling in for Williams if he can’t go.
You have to go back to 2021 to find the last time Allen threw more than three passes in a game. It was a Week 18 contest where Allen had 29 passes for 4.7 yards per attempt. During training camp and the preseason, Allen wasn’t gunshy and had a surprisingly accurate deep ball, but that was preseason. If he is, in fact, under center, he’s walking into one of the most difficult places to play in the NFL.