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Brock Purdy news
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Brock Purdy makes his 50th 49ers start Thursday as San Francisco opens against the Rams in.
The milestone frames a season where his health and a thinner roster decide how.
Background
Purdy took over as the 49ers' starting quarterback in December 2022 and has since done almost nothing but win, with a spotless reputation inside NFL buildings. He is entering his fifth NFL season and has performed in training camp like a player ready to take the leap from good to great. The 2026 49ers are seen as having the high-end talent to win a Super Bowl if healthy, but the roster's middle class has hollowed out, leaving the floor fragile — which puts more weight on the quarterback.
How it unfolded
- Dec 2022Purdy takes over as the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback.
- Sep 8, 2026Purdy says he is awestruck by tight end George Kittle's recovery from a January Achilles tear.
- Sep 10, 2026Purdy throws a 39-yard touchdown to Demarcus Robinson, giving the 49ers a 10-7 lead over the Rams; he is 15-of-22 for 134 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
- Sep 11, 2026The 49ers' season opener against the Rams is played at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia, Purdy's 50th start for the team.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- A Press Democrat column argues Purdy is the engine of the 49ers' Super Bowl hopes and that outside Northern California he should be viewed as a franchise quarterback who earns his paycheck when depth thins.
- Caution
- A Pro Football Network fantasy column ranks Purdy 14th at quarterback for Week 1 and says it is not interested in starting him against a Rams defense that gives reasons to bench quarterbacks.