While the Arizona Cardinals did as much as possible to make life easy for Brock Purdy on his return from injury, the 49ers quarterback’s performance was still worthy of great praise, and he received plenty from his offensive teammates following their 41-22 win.
Though Purdy didn’t have to put too much pressure on his troublesome toe in terms of scrambling and extending plays, there was no sign of it hindering him as he completed 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns.
Purdy has had a long
time on the sideline as Mac Jones kept the 49ers’ playoff push on track, but there was no sign of rust, and Christian McCaffrey heaped plaudits on his quarterback for how easy he made it look despite his lengthy absence.
Said McCaffrey:
“He was vintage Brock, and that’s a huge compliment. He was poised, made some great plays, made some huge third down throws. Kept us in the game, was smart the whole game. To miss games like that is really hard. And to come back in the middle of the year, I think people kind of just watch and he had a good game. But to be out that long and to come in and do what he did today is extremely impressive.”
Purdy’s display saw him post a passer rating of 133.5. It marked his 12th game with a rating of 125 or higher, surpassing Patrick Mahomes (11 games) and Deshaun Watson (11) for the second-most such games by a player in his first four seasons in NFL history. Only Russell Wilson (15) has more.
After McCaffrey’s one-yard touchdown plunge following a 99-yard opening kickoff return from Skyy More put the 49ers ahead in 16 seconds, Purdy hit George Kittle for a 30-yard score on a perfectly thrown deep ball.
That play came after a check at the line that confirmed man coverage, with Kittle going up against a linebacker.
Purdy and Kittle connected for another score in the third quarter, with the All-Pro tight end paying tribute to his communication skills afterward.
“I think I’ve only said this about two quarterbacks. Brock’s presence in the huddle is just so elite and how he talks to the players—but he plays the game with this joy that’s so infectious and it’s just so much fun to play football with him,” Kittle said.
“Especially five plays into the game, he hits me 30 yards down the field for a pass. He was definitely feeling it. I think he’s got the confidence. He’s got his swagger. More people were celebrating with Brock after his touchdown pass rather than me so I was a little jealous but he was definitely feeling it today.
“Jimmy G’s (Former 49ers Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo) presence in the huddle was pretty damn good. He had a very good voice for the huddle. Some guys just have a piercing voice that when they speak and talk, everybody’s attention shifts no matter what is going on, and he does that. Brock is very good at that.”
