Baldy is surprised to see Purdy playing in a preseason game with substitutes Originally appeared in NBC Bay Area Sports
Brock Purdy received his first NFL preseason reps of the 2024 season, but it wasn’t the star-studded cameo many 49ers fans were hoping for.
The third-year quarterback played three series (11 plays) in San Francisco wins 16-10 over the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, using mostly second- and third-string players, and completed 2 of 6 passing attempts for 11 total passing yards.
NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger joined 95.7 The Morning Roast Game” on Tuesday and questioned the 49ers’ decision to play Purdy without most of his usual offensive supporting cast.
“If you’re going to play Trent Taylor and Brayden Willis and (Cody) Schrader and these guys, is that who you want your quarterback to be with?” Baldinger asked Bonta Hill and Joe Shasky. “I know you want him to adapt to everything, but at least give him an option to throw the ball to. I see these guys getting out of bounds on routes, I see these guys falling on their faces, I see the left tackle giving up a big hit to Brock. So if you’re going to sit everybody, and I mean everybody, why not sit your quarterback, too?”
Speaking to reporters after the match, Purdy explained why he found His limited reps against the Saints defense are valuable.
“You don’t get that in practice,” Purdy said. “Obviously you get pressure and all that kind of stuff, but you have to go out there and understand that there’s a mental clock that tells you to get the ball out or else you’re going to get hit. There are times when you have to stand there and take some hits. Those are the kinds of things you don’t get in practice.”
“Honestly, those are the things I liked. Just the idea of playing a preseason game to get a feel for myself again, before the season starts and all that. It’s good reps for me, it gives me a good feel as a quarterback, so it didn’t bother me. It’s part of the game.”
Coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed Monday that Purdy will receive additional game reps, this time with more of the 49ers’ first-team offensive linemen, in Friday’s preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders at Allegiant Stadium.
If all goes according to plan, Purdy should be able to use Friday’s regular-season dress rehearsal as a springboard toward a crucial Week 1 matchup against the New York Jets.