When: 8:15 PM ET, Thursday, December 15, 2022
Where: Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
Brock Purdy emerged victorious from his first career NFL start, but not unscathed.
The San Francisco 49ers’ rookie quarterback suffered oblique and rib injuries in a 35-7 victory against Tampa Bay on Sunday, but he should be ready to go Thursday night at the Seattle Seahawks.
The NFC West-leading 49ers (9-4), who have won six consecutive games, can clinch the division title with a victory against the second-place Seahawks (7-6).
Purdy, selected with the last overall pick in this year’s NFL draft to earn the title of “Mr. Irrelevant,” was hurt on a scramble on the second drive of last Sunday’s victory against the visiting Buccaneers.
Purdy, who took over from the injured Jimmy Garoppolo two weeks ago, was limited at a light practice Tuesday.
“I haven’t been out to practice or tried throwing the football or anything yet,” Purdy said. “So it’s been how I feel walking around or trying to do movements in the pool. I can still jog and run and that kind of stuff but I haven’t tried playing football yet.”
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said he would wait until Thursday to name a starter, though it’s expected to be Purdy, who’s officially listed as questionable.
Against Tampa Bay, Purdy became the first rookie in the Super Bowl era to throw at least two TD passes, run for a score and have a passer rating of at least 125 in his first career start.
Of course, Seattle isn’t the easiest place for a rookie making his first road start. Lumen Field is considered one of the loudest venues in the league.
“I’m excited for it,” Purdy said. “All these guys have played here a bunch of times. So I’m just hearing them out on what’s good or not in terms of communication and operation. We’ll be ready to roll for it.”
Purdy will be without wide receiver Deebo Samuel, who is expected to miss at least three weeks with injuries to his knee and ankle.
Running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) has been a limited participant in practice this week, along with cornerback Ambry Thomas (ankle) and defensive linemen Arik Armstead (foot, ankle) and Kerry Hyder Jr. (ankle). Thomas and Hyder are questionable while McCaffrey and Armstead are unspecified. The 49ers didn’t practice Wednesday but McCaffrey and Armstead were full participants on the estimated practice report.
Defensive tackles Hassan Ridgeway (pectoral) and Kevin Givens (knee), and safety Tarvarius Moore (knee) have been ruled out. Cornerback Samuel Womack (concussion protocol) has missed practice but his status is unspecified.
The Seahawks have blown a two-game division lead by losing three of their past four games. They’ve dropped their past two home games, 40-34 to Las Vegas in overtime and 30-24 last Sunday to Carolina.
Quarterback Geno Smith, a leading contender for the league’s comeback player of the year, threw a season-worst two interceptions against the Panthers.
“I think I’ve been too aggressive as of late and so I’ve got to kind of get back to what I was doing early on, which was just taking what they give me and allowing us to have a complementary football team,” Smith said.
Running backs Kenneth Walker III and DeeJay Dallas both missed last weekend’s game with ankle injuries. Walker was listed as a full participant Wednesday and does not carry an injury designation, meaning he’s good to go. Safety Joey Blount (back) is listed as questionable. Dallas missed practice time along with safety Ryan Neal (knee) and nose tackle Al Woods (Achilles). Dallas, Neal and Woods are all questionable to play.
The Seahawks and 49ers met in Week 2 in Santa Clara, Calif., with the hosts winning 27-7 as Garoppolo came off the bench for an injured Trey Lance.
–Field Level Media
