49ers Bulletin: Brock Purdy reminds Faithful, NFL Niners are his team

It’s possible that all the media rumblings of a quarterback controversy in San Francisco may have caused Brock Purdy to chuckle under his breath as he worked tediously to get back from a nagging turf toe injury. While local and national pundits weighed the sometimes fair, sometimes too far-fetched dichotomy between Purdy and backup quarterback Mac Jones, the new $265 Million man can’t have been too worried. 

After Purdy and the Niners offense dismantled the Cardinals on Sunday afternoon, it was easy to see why he didn’t have to sweat his starting job. Mac Jones had filled in admirably in Purdy’s absence. Performed better than any backup should reasonably be expected to. It’s even fair to compare the individual attributes of the two quarterbacks in a vacuum. But the way this 49ers offense hums when Brock Purdy is at its controls is undeniable. 

Purdy announced his return early in this one. With the Niners kick return unit easing him in, a long return and a first play rushing TD gave SF a 7-0 lead before Purdy had to unleash his first throw. When he did get to slinging, it looked a lot like what fans became accustomed to seeing during his stellar 2023 season. Te early reunion with George Kittle for a touchdown was a sight for sore eyes. 

It was as much of a breath of fresh air for Purdy himself as it was for the Faithful.

Although his stat line didn’t show a dominant passing performance, it was more than impressive given the game script. Purdy finished 19-26 for 200 yards in the air. He tossed three touchdowns and didn’t throw an interception, thanks in part to the hands of a Cardinals’ defensive back on one second quarter risky throw. The toe wasn’t tested to any strenuous degree, as Purdy didn’t scramble at all and had no designed runs. He was hit, and was brought down awkwardly late in the game on a failed two-point conversion, but escaped with no bumps and bruises.

George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey were both impressed but not surprised with what they saw from Purdy in his return. Kittle commended his presence in the huddle. McCaffrey summed it up more simply.

Don’t forget about Skyy Moore. The Niners’ special teams unit, much improved of late, gave the team an immediate spark when Skyy Moore took the opening kickoff all the way down to the Arizona 1-yard-line. He was just barely caught, but Christian McCaffrey fantasy owners thanked him for the service. Here’s how that and several more of Sunday’s biggest momenta sounded courtesy of Justin Allegri on KNBR.