SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Coming into an essential matchup with the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers might be with out beginning quarterback Brock Purdy and defensive finish Nick Bosa.
The Niners dominated out Purdy (proper shoulder soreness) and Bosa (left hip/indirect) Friday afternoon, simply earlier than the staff was scheduled to fly to Wisconsin. Coach Kyle Shanahan introduced that veteran Brandon Allen will begin rather than Purdy, with Josh Dobbs obtainable because the backup.
With Purdy and Bosa out and left sort out Trent Williams (ankle) once more listed as questionable, the 5-5 Niners might be with out three of their most essential gamers in a sport they desperately want to remain within the postseason hunt.
“We’re lacking two good gamers, positively,” Shanahan mentioned. “However we have got quite a lot of good gamers on the market. In no way will we not have an opportunity to win. We’ll combat our tails off and anticipate this to be an actual good sport.”
Whereas Bosa lacking a sport to get better has been an actual chance for the previous two weeks, Purdy’s absence grew right into a actuality over the previous 24 hours. Purdy was a restricted participant in Wednesday’s observe, however Shanahan and the Niners mentioned they believed his sore shoulder would proceed to get higher because the week went on.
Purdy was on the sector for some gentle throwing earlier than Thursday’s observe, however that clearly did not go nicely as he retreated to the burden room for additional therapy. That obvious setback stunned the 49ers.
The writing was on the wall earlier Friday when Purdy was nowhere to be discovered throughout the portion of observe open to media.
“That is one thing that we did not assume would occur early within the week,” Shanahan mentioned. “We had been totally getting ready for Brock to go and acquired a bit of stunned about this yesterday.”
In accordance with Shanahan, Purdy had an MRI on the shoulder Monday and it didn’t present any structural harm that may provide trigger for concern that he may miss prolonged time. However Shanahan additionally mentioned he was uncertain when Purdy might be again.
“I do not wish to say there’s long-term concern,” Shanahan mentioned. “We thought he simply wanted some relaxation, and we actually weren’t involved about [him] not being good this week. However when he began up Thursday, it simply stunned him, stunned us with the way it felt. So we needed to shut him down.
“I actually do not know what to think about it. … However the best way it responded this week, it is actually up within the air subsequent week. We’ll should see on Monday.”
Shanahan mentioned Purdy couldn’t level to a particular play the place he damage the shoulder in final week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. However Shanahan famous that Purdy’s shoulder felt tight throughout the sport and led to him spending extra time warming within the sport than he often would.
With Purdy out, Allen is poised to make his tenth regular-season begin since getting into the NFL as a sixth-round decide of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2016. Three of these begins had been for the Denver Broncos in 2019, with the opposite six for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 and 2021. He has been with the 49ers since 2023, working the scout staff towards the protection for a lot of that point.
Allen mentioned he did not know till Friday that he could be beginning, based mostly on the expectation that Purdy would really feel higher because the week went on.
“It is a chance,” Allen mentioned. “The circumstances are what they’re, however I believe our staff — all 12 months lengthy we now have been coping with accidents right here and there, and it has been an enormous next-man-up mentality. So it is positively a chance for me to exit and play nicely and put our guys in a great place to win the sport.”
Shanahan mentioned that regardless of his harm, Purdy will journey with the staff to Inexperienced Bay. Bosa, nevertheless, is not going to. Bosa has been coping with accidents to each hips and obliques, although the left aspect has been extra bothersome this week.
Final week, Bosa performed towards Seattle regardless of ache in his proper aspect however injured the left aspect with about 9 minutes left within the third quarter. He didn’t return to the sport and when it was over mentioned he felt like he was “compensating” for the harm on the fitting aspect when he damage the left.
Bosa did not sound optimistic Wednesday that he would have the ability to play towards the Packers, saying, “It will get higher every single day. We’ll see.”
Along with Bosa and Purdy, the Niners might be with out cornerback Charvarius Ward for a 3rd straight sport. Ward returned to observe this week after being away from the staff to grieve the dying of his 1-year-old daughter. Ward rejoined the staff final weekend, however Shanahan mentioned neither aspect needed to hurry something as a result of the cornerback hadn’t practiced since earlier than the Oct. 27 sport towards the Dallas Cowboys.
“We had been simply joyful to get him again within the constructing this week,” Shanahan mentioned. “We do not wish to put any stress on him by any means to get able to play. He simply needed to get again on the sector. … Hopefully he’ll be good to go subsequent week.”
As for Williams, he performed final week towards the Seahawks after not practising all week. He may do it once more this week after once more sitting out all three days of observe, although this time the 49ers have an extended flight to Inexperienced Bay added to the combination.
Shanahan mentioned a choice on Williams will not be made till “proper as much as kickoff.” Tight finish George Kittle, who missed final week with a hamstring harm, doesn’t have a sport designation and is cleared to return towards the Packers.