QB controversy?
That’s what some of the buzz would lead you to believe regarding the 49ers’ second string quarterback slot. Although Nate Sudfeld is one of the higher paid backup quarterbacks in the league, San Francisco drafted Brock Purdy with the final pick of the draft this year, and he’s impressed with his snaps so far this preseason.
Is it enough to beat out Sudfeld or keep both QBs on the roster? According to Matt Maiocco, that’s not likely. However, Purdy has a good chance to stick around on the 49ers’ practice squad.
“I think in today’s NFL where most teams are keeping three quarterbacks on their 53-man roster, I would not anticipate that a team would claim him off waivers and put him on their 53,” Maiocco said on KNBR. “I don’t think my opinion has changed at all as far as Trey Lance is the starter, Nate Sudfeld is the backup, Jimmy Garoppolo will be released at some point the next day and then I think Brock Purdy will be released and then brought back to the practice squad.
“In order to be on the practice squad you have to release a guy and then he has to clear waivers and then you can sign him to the practice squad. But I will say this: Brock Purdy has impressed me.”
Maiocco says that all of Purdy’s experience in college — he was a four-year starter at Iowa State — has helped him hit the ground running.
“That experience shows. Just the way he’s handled the in-game situations, the clock management, just the game management portion of it and he throws an easily catchable ball, he’s accurate,” Maiocco said. “It’s unclear at this point whether he has the arm strength to be a starting quarterback in the league.
“He reminds me a lot of Nick Mullens, and I certainly don’t consider that an insult.”
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