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SANTA CLARA — Brock Purdy’s victorious starting debut did not come without pain, specifically to the oblique muscle on the left side of his torso.
Purdy, along with Deebo Samuel and other 49ers’ casualties, was undergoing an MRI exam Monday morning after getting hurt in Sunday’s 35-7 win over Tampa Bay.
“It was a challenge for him, just talking to him and seeing him after the game,” coach Kyle Shanahan said on a media conference call, while awaiting all MRI results. “He toughed it out and did good things with it.
“I know he’s sore today. Hopefully the MRI is good and will give him a chance to play Thursday.”
The 49ers (9-4) can clinch their 22nd NFC West title like their last one in 2019: by winning in Seattle, where they’ll play Thursday night against the second-place Seahawks (7-6).
A win also would assure the 49ers of at least the NFC’s No. 3 seed ahead of the NFC South winner. The Philadelphia Eagles (12-1) and the Minnesota Vikings (10-3) are ahead of the 49ers on the playoff ladder, and the 49ers’ conference record (7-2) could help in an eventual tiebreaker with the Vikings (6-3).
Samuel is believed to have suffered a sprain to his upper left ankle, an injury that could knock him out until the playoffs.
While Purdy became the 49ers’ third starting quarterback this season, his injury is not believed to be as serious as those that sidelined his predecessors, Trey Lance (Week 2 ankle fracture) and Jimmy Garoppolo (Week 13 foot fracture).
Purdy got hurt, Shanahan believes, on the 49ers’ second series Sunday. On third-and-11 from their 44-yard line, Purdy scrambled right and dove near the sideline, only to be stopped a yard short of a first down. A holding penalty by Trent Williams negated the play, Purdy then completed a 6-yard pass to Samuel and the 49ers punted with a 7-0 lead.
“Then it got worse on him throughout the game,” Shanahan said of Purdy’s oblique issue, noting that throwing draws upon core muscles, so even if the right-handed Purdy did not hurt that right side, “it’s still not good either way.”
Purdy produced touchdown drives on four of the next five possessions and he eventually got pulled for Josh Johnson’s debut midway through the fourth quarter. Johnson, signed a week ago off the Denver Broncos’ practice squad, would start Thursday night if Purdy can’t play. Their only other in-house quarterback who’s healthy is Jacob Eason, on the practice squad.
After Sunday’s game, Shanahan took a seat next to Purdy at his locker. The sixth-year coach checked on Purdy’s health, they discussed the game, last week’s preparations and how this week’s work will unfold.
In turn, “He said how much fun he had,” Shanahan relayed. “He brought up a couple of plays he missed in practice during the week that were killing him, said he knew he’d get them down by game day, which is unbelievable because he had a great week of practice. … Showed kid is a perfectionist, and whatever he does, he feels he can do better.”
Shanahan went on to elaborate Purdy’s actions on two plays in particular against the Bucs (6-7):
On the opening snap, Purdy audibled to a man-coverage call, but that left safety Keanu Neal uncovered and allowed him a free pass to sack Purdy, only he did so by leading with his helmet and drawing a roughing-the-passer penalty. Said Shanahan: “He regretted that (audible) pretty quick but he came back from the hit pretty fast. Sometimes those plays wake you up pretty fast.”
On Purdy’s 32-yard pass to Brandon Aiyuk for a 28-0 lead 15 seconds before halftime, Shanahan said the play was in the game plan but Aiyuk’s route turned into a double move after an audible on the eve of the game. “I brought it up to Brock Saturday night,” Shanahan said. “The paly was a curl and he hadn’t done the curl-and-go yet. I told Brock it might come and asked if he was comfortable, and he was. Receivers are always ok with double moves. It was a hell of a route by Aiyuk.”
KINLAW WEEK AWAY?
The 49ers’ defensive line lost Kevin Givens (knee) and Kerry Hyder Jr. (ankle) to injuries Sunday, and don’t expect Javon Kinlaw to come off injured reserve this week to bolster that unit. The 49ers plan to open Kinlaw’s three week practice window next week, Shanahan said. Kinlaw played in the first three games and has been out since then because of issues with his knee that required surgery last season.
OTHER CASUALTIES
Defensive tackle Kevin Givens: He sustained a left-knee injury that Shanahan suspects is a medial collateral ligament sprain that could keep him out multiple weeks. Givens got hurt three snaps into the defense’s first series and did not return. Givens was making his 11th start and has been an unheralded helper to the 49ers’ run defense, while 2020 top pick Javon Kinlaw remains on injured reserve with a knee issue.
Cornerback Sam Womack III: Shanahan ruled out the rookie from Thursday night’s game because there is not enough time for Womack to clear the NFL’s concussion protocol. All 12 of his snaps Sunday came on special teams, where he’s thrived this season.
Defensive back Dontae Johnson: Activated a day earlier from the practice squad for just his second game this year, he sustained a left-knee injury covering a kickoff in the final seconds before halftime.
Defensive lineman Kerry Hyder Jr.: The versatile veteran sustained an ankle injury near the end zone while pass rushing Tom Brady early in the fourth quarter. Shanahan does not believe the injury is serious.
Cornerback Ambry Thomas: The second-year cornerback endured an ankle injury, after playing one defensive snap (his first since Nov. 21 in Mexico) and 13 special-teams snaps.
SAMUEL APOLOGIZES
Samuel tweeted an apology Monday morning to a cameraman who got bowled over on Samuel’s opening-drive touchdown run. Samuel was launched out of bounds by a defender and collided with the cameraman. Samuel then took a high step over him upon returning to the end zone to celebrate the 49ers’ 7-0 lead.
“My apologies for stepping over the camera guy,” Samuel tweeted. “Definitely didn’t realize I did it until watching the tape. Was just in the moment. My apologies my guy.”
GREENLAW’S MEMENTO
Shanahan found it funny when he saw postgame highlights of linebacker Dre Greenlaw getting Tom Brady to autograph the footballs that Greenlaw and Tashaun Gipson Sr. intercepted in the third quarter. “It was real cool for Tom do to that for him,” Shanahan said. “(Greenlaw) was a giddy fan. He watched Tom all week (on film) and knows why Tom’s as good as he is.”
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