49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is a “long shot” to play Sunday with left shoulder and toe injuries, and he’s not San Francisco’s only injury worry.
“I think it’s a long shot,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said Wednesday of Purdy’s status for Week 2 at New Orleans on Sunday.
Shanahan said it’s “possible” Purdy will miss multiple weeks because of the severity of his toe injury. Shanahan said the injury is on the bottom of Purdy’s foot between the big toe and second toe, all but eliminating his mobility.
Former first-round pick Mac Jones, drafted 15th overall by the New England Patriots in 2021, slides into the starting spot with the 49ers trying to sort through who else could be available. Tight end George Kittle, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, won’t play in at least the next four games after going on injured reserve because of a hamstring injury in the season-opening 17-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks.
“Mac knows how to play the position, sees the field well,” Shanahan said. “Tough guy. He’ll hang in there and deliver the ball where it needs to go.”
“I don’t know who has a faster 40. Brock, I’d say, is a little better scrambler.”
Jones, who turned 27 last Friday, played 10 games with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2024. He is 20-29 in his career as a starter, and also lost in his lone postseason game (2021 with New England). The 49ers took a “very close” look at Jones coming out of Alabama in 2021, when they used the No. 3 overall pick on quarterback Trey Lance.
Purdy, running back Christian McCaffrey, left tackle Trent Williams and wide receiver Jauan Jennings were not available to practice on Wednesday. McCaffrey (calf) and Williams (knee) were already scheduled for a veteran rest day. Jennings left last week’s win at Seattle with a shoulder injury.
“It’s a huge challenge this week,” Shanahan said. “Hopefully, we keep getting better.”
