49ers Injury Update: QB Brock Purdy in Concussion Protocol

Posted on: October 26, 2023, 08:15h. 

Last updated on: October 26, 2023, 12:15h.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy sustained a head injury in a loss against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football. Backup quarterback Sam Darnold will start for the 49ers this Sunday if Purdy doesn’t clear concussion protocol in time.

The 49ers have dropped two games in a row after starting the season at 5-0. Their winning streak was halted by the Cleveland Browns in Week 6 before they were tripped up by the Vikings in Week 7.

On Sunday, the 49ers host the Cincinnati Bengals at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The Bengals (3-3) won two games in a row and looked to get back on track after an 0-2 start.

Purdy Sustains Head Injury on MNF

Purdy completed 21-of-30 passes for 272 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions in a 22-17 loss against the Vikings. He finished the Monday Night Football game without any incidents.

Purdy avoided any big hits, and the Vikings only sacked him once. Replays suggest he could have encountered a head injury on one of two quarterback sneaks in the second half.

Minnesota linebacker Jordan Hicks banged heads with Purdy midway through the fourth quarter on a QB keeper.

Brock started getting symptoms on the plane,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan. “We finally found that out when we landed. We were all pretty asleep, but then he got all checked up yesterday and now he’s in the protocol.”

Purdy completed 67.9% of his passes this season for 1,668 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. He’s also added two rushing touchdowns. He’s ranked #2 on ESPN in QBR with a 75.6 rating.

Next Man Up: Sam Darnold

If Purdy is unable to suit up in Week 8, then it’s Darnold’s time to shine. Darnold signed with the 49ers in the off-season and was expected to be the third-stringer, while Purdy and Trey Lance competed for the starting position.

Early in training camp, it was evident that Purdy would be named the starter over Lance. Many insiders were surprised when Darnold was named the official backup, and Lance was relegated to third string.

The New York Jets selected Darnold with the third overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Darnold started 55 games in his career with the Jets and Carolina Panthers. He has a 21-34 record as a starter. He started six games last season with the Panthers and went 4-2.

The 49ers also have Brandon Allen on their roster. If Purdy doesn’t play this week, Allen will perform backup quarterback duties behind Darnold.

Betting the Banged-Up 49ers

The 49ers square off against the Bengals in Week 8. Joe Burrow looks like he recovered from a calf injury, which flared up earlier this season. He looked like his old self in back-to-back victories for the Bengals. The Bengals are also fresh off their bye week and flying into Northern California as a well-rested squad.

The 49ers are -3.5 favorites against the visiting Bengals. The line opened at -6, but quickly moved two-plus points after Purdy entered the concussion protocol.

This season, the 49ers are 4-3 against the point spread (ATS). The Bengals are 2-3-1 ATS, but covered in their last two games.

The 49ers occupy first place in the NFC West and hold a half-game edge over the Seattle Seahawks (4-2). The 49ers are -500 odds to win the NFC West, ahead of the Seahawks at +450. The Los Angeles Rams (3-4) are a long shot at +1800 odds, and the Arizona Cardinals (1-5) are a moon shot at +15000 odds.

Despite the two-game skid, the 49ers are the betting favorite to win the NFC Championship at +200 odds. They’re slightly ahead of the Philadelphia Eagles at +240, who they lost to in last year’s NFC title game.

The Kansas City Chiefs have the top record in the NFL at 6-1, and they’re undefeated when Taylor Swift attends games. The Chiefs regained the top spot on the NFL futures board at DraftKings. The Chiefs are +450 odds to win Super Bowl LVIII, and they’re a tick ahead of the 49ers at +475.