Why Whitner thinks the 49ers made a mistake by playing Purdy against the Lions originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
With the The 49ers have already been eliminated from playoff contention.Should San Francisco have rested some of its key starters against the Detroit Lions on Monday?
With Brock Purdy suffers elbow injury In what was essentially a meaningless game, NBC Sports Bay Area’s Donte Whitner laid out his case for why it was a mistake for the 49ers to play the third-year quarterback against the Lions.
“The 49ers surprised all of us, and when I say all of us, I mean all of us in the football world. They had a very competitive and lively game against the Detroit Lions on Monday night. Brock Purdy threw for a career high. 377 yards and three touchdowns. He also threw two interceptions. Now, I say all that to say Purdy should have never played,” Whitner said on “Hitners Hot Take.” “Behind a makeshift offensive line, which to be fair, protected him well for most of the night. But as we know, football, particularly professional football, is fast and physical.
“And it only takes one play. For Brock Purdy to be considered your franchise quarterback, you can’t put him at risk. It was too much of a risk. Now, Brock Purdy is having elbow problems. Just the possibility that Brock Purdy, ” “Your franchise quarterback could get injured, seriously injured, in a meaningless game, it’s another failure of the coaching staff in a season full of failures.”
In a game that many expected the 49ers to lose by a wide margin, Purdy and San Francico’s offense put up a tough fight but ultimately came up short.
Purdy finished with 377 passing yards, two touchdowns through the air and another score on the ground in what is his final action of the 2024 NFL season after being reliminated for the 49ers final this weekend against the Arizona Cardinals.
With many questions surrounding Purdy’s long-term future as he faces a potentially lucrative contract extension, it’s no surprise that the third-year quarterback will take the field considering his trademark competitive nature.
Should we regret the decision to play Purdy? Whitner certainly thinks so.
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