We’re back with another mailbag.
To answer a question I found in the comments last week: yes, these are real Niners Nation users with real questions. This, unlike many other things in my life, is not a figment of my imagination.
That said, if you want to see your real question make this here mailbag, go and probe the feed.
I will open things up following Sunday’s game, and then I will write this out later in the week.With that said, let’s get to your questions. Many of which regard what the 49ers should
do with Purdy, his injury, and a possible trade.
Will Shanny & the 49ers PR dept stop with the games on Purdy? Every 15 minutes its something different. He has turf toe but isnt resting or having surgery he has limited practice and is expected to heal? Hes on limited practices but Shanny wont let him start unless he gets through 3 full practices and hes “definitely” starting Sunday? Its constant lies and its exhausting.
—Ninersalltheway
We’ve discussed this in a mailbag before, but it’s worth revisiting. There are two reasons you see and hear what you do.
The first thing to keep in mind is that 31 other teams listen to Shanahan’s press conferences. One of them is the team the 49ers face that week. Shanahan isn’t “lying” — he’s avoiding giving opponents anything they can gameplan around.
The second reason is privacy. If the league doesn’t need to know it, neither do we. It is a turf-toe-ish injury, but it’s complicated, and the week-to-week fluctuation explains the “limited but expected” and “day-to-day” stuff everyone is frustrated about.
Shanahan wants Purdy out there, but not at the cost of re-aggravating it. Limited reps help gauge pain and consistency. And yes — he’s also protecting Purdy from himself. We’ve seen Purdy insist he’s fine (hello, Jacksonville). Shanahan doesn’t want a repeat.
None of these points point to a major cover-up. This is just injury management plus competitive advantage.
No question…just an observation on how the Brock contract looks worse and worse with each passing day…similar to the trade for the #3 pick.
Ironic how Brock saved face on the Trey Lance trade debacle, and now Mac Jones is saving face for the Brock contract debacle.
—since88
Not an answer, just an observation. The Brock contract still looks fair for both sides, and when I watch Mac Jones, I see things he can’t do that Purdy can. Jones isn’t saving face for the contract debacle; he’s keeping the 49ers 6-3 when they could be 1-8.
I have the memory of a goldfish and can’t appreciate nice things should they cut Brick Purdy without compensation and also elevate Mac Jones be the head coach and the GM? do you think it’s because I lack any sense of nuance? I do wear all the axe body sprays together at the same time.
—no_such_thing_as_nothing
Hey, don’t knock Axe Phoenix. And also don’t cut Brock Purdy. One, because he’s the better of the two quarterbacks. But also because cutting him would give the 49ers some like $100,000 in dead money. Jones isn’t a bad quarterback. Purdy is just better.
AITA because I think that the team is in an active rebuild, never believed that this year was going to be “our year”, but also believe that if the O-line next draft gets as much attention as D-line did this draft, THEN maybe the 2027 season will be the return to being a top 5 team?—FartinGold
No. Because I said the same thing. The 49ers are an active rebuild and 6-3. The New England Patriots did this during the Brady years. The difference is that the 49ers have to play in a division that’s competitive every year. The Patriots got gifted a disaster of a division on more than one occasion.
In 2026, the 49ers could be really, really good. That shouldn’t stop them now from fighting for the playoffs and making a surprise here or there, but their actions should indicate that winning a Super Bowl was not the intention. Just like when they made the trade for Trey Lance, they knew they could get there with what they had.
If the Niners decide that Jones could be qb of future, what could they expect in trade for Purdy, if he’s tradeable?
—Niner JP
He’s not tradeable. And Jones is not the quarterback of the future. Jones has proven he’s a starter among 32 other quarterbacks and a quarterback of the future for many of those teams. The 49ers are not that team.
We’re 6-4 with an easy schedule remaining and a possible playoff run. And yet, I’m already jonesing. Clickbaity links tease me on every web corner, offering me a cheap fix. I’m worried I might relapse soon. Any advice on how not to mock draft until February?
—Flydyl
I think before you mock draft, look at what the 49ers have and ask yourself whether your attitude toward holes and needs has changed for the draft next spring. For me, I’m thinking the 49ers still need an edge rusher, but I’m really getting on the “draft O-line” train. If they do trade Mac Jones this offseason and get a second-rounder, I hope the pick is on a lineman.
Best taste of Thanksgiving, the main dish or the leftover sandwich?
It drives my wife nuts, but I always have a few nibbles when everyone else is chowing down and then eat my real meal later in the form of (1 or more) sandwiches. For me sandwiches just hit different.
—-NYners
I used to hate Thanksgiving. I never understood it. The day off was nice, but that was it. Why do we get together and eat a bunch of turkey? What is the big deal about turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, etc., anyway? It’s just food.
Years later, I realized it was because my parents were bad cooks. Nowadays, I get a turkey pre-smoked, then I wrap it in bacon, rub butter between the skin and the meat, etc., etc. I have great sides, everything. I do not make sandwiches. I pack it all up and grub as much as I can throughout the weekend while I watch football and do whatever else. I invite as many people as I can, make twice as much food as needed, then go out of my way to make sure no one shows up.
So the leftover sandwich is something I may try. Maybe a Philly cheesesteak-like sandwich, but with turkey?
