National Football League

Brock Purdy’s elbow injury will likely sideline him for 49ers’ final game

Updated Dec. 31, 2024 4:46 p.m. ET

Brock Purdy hurt his surgically repaired throwing elbow late in a loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night, the latest blow in an injury-plagued season for the San Francisco 49ers.

Purdy threw two interceptions in the second half before leaving the game and will likely be sidelined for a meaningless season finale.

Coach Kyle Shanahan said Tuesday that Purdy had a bruise and nerve inflammation, but no long-term issues in his right elbow. Purdy tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow in the 2022 NFC title game and underwent a lengthy rehabilitation.

The good news for the 49ers (6-10) is that the injury shouldn't impact Purdy this offseason.

"I’m relieved, but I wasn’t too concerned," Shanahan said. "I wasn’t too worried about it with the information we had last night. So it was good to just hear the same thing today."

The injury came in the final two minutes of a 40-34 loss for San Francisco when Brian Branch brought down Purdy with a sack on a blitz. Purdy rolled over as he fell to the ground and his right elbow went right into the face mask of defensive lineman Pat O'Connor.

Purdy said his elbow was initially "on fire" but initial tests showed no damage to his UCL.

"It doesn't feel the best," he said Monday. "But it doesn't feel that bad, so we'll see tomorrow."

With Purdy likely out for the finale, Shanahan said he hasn't decided whether Brandon Allen or Joshua Dobbs would start at Arizona on Sunday. Allen started a Week 12 loss at Green Bay when Purdy was out with a shoulder injury, but Dobbs was the backup on Monday night.

Dobbs replaced Purdy and led a touchdown drive to close out the loss, which left the Niners assured of finishing in last place in the NFC West after making it to the Super Bowl last season.

Purdy's injury was just the latest to hit San Francisco this season, with stars Christian McCaffrey, Trent Williams, Brandon Aiyuk, Nick Bosa and Dre Greenlaw among the many key players to be sidelined for multiple games.

Jared Goff, Lions PREVAIL vs. Brock Purdy, 49ers

The situation was so dire that Purdy played Monday night behind an offensive line that featured third- and fourth-stringers at both left guard and left tackle.

Purdy overcame that obstacle early, playing a nearly flawless first half when he threw two TD passes and ran for another score on the first three drives and posted a perfect 158.3 passer rating.

"We were in a groove," he said. "At that point of the game, we were just being aggressive and trying to win the game however it took. The pass game was going really well."

After throwing another touchdown pass on San Francisco's first drive of the second half, Purdy struggled down the stretch, throwing two interceptions to Kerby Joseph that ended the Niners' hopes of a victory.

That's the kind of season it has been for Purdy, who has been unable to match the heights he reached last season when he led the NFL with a 113 passer rating and 9.6 yards per attempt while finishing fourth in MVP voting.

Purdy's numbers have taken a significant drop this season and he has 20 touchdown passes and 12 interceptions.

"I think he’s handled this year head on,' Shanahan said. "He hasn’t ran from anything. He’s attacked everything, plays as hard as he can and works as hard as he can. ... He comes in and always on Mondays and Tuesdays and faces the truth of everything and comes back and grinds and tries to get better each week. ... I thought last night, he was disappointed in the turnovers and he was disappointed in the loss."

Reporting by The Associated Press.