San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy continues to be hindered by a painful turf toe injury but remains hopeful he will be on the field when his team battles the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday night in Inglewood, Calif.
The NFC West rivals have 3-1 records as part of a three-way tie for first place with the Seattle Seahawks, and Purdy is feeling the urgency to play in the division showdown.
“If I can play this game, I’m going to play,” Purdy said on Tuesday. “Obviously, I want to get right and get healthy and everything, but we need to win this game against the Rams, so that’s how I’m looking at it.”
Purdy didn’t participate in the team’s Tuesday walkthrough, and the team will divulge his official status on Wednesday.
Purdy was initially hurt during San Francisco’s Week 1 victory over the Seahawks and missed the next two games. He has the same number of touchdown passes (four) as interceptions in his two 2025 appearances.
He returned for a 26-21 home loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday and felt pain in the toe following the contest.
“I sort of expected it, but with the quick turnaround Thursday night game and everything, it’s just tougher,” Purdy said of the soreness. “I don’t have as many days to get right and heal up and feel better. That’s just where we’re at.”
Mac Jones would draw the start if Purdy can’t play. Jones has been dealing with a knee injury he sustained in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals, but he is no longer limited in practice.
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said pain tolerance is only part of the decision regarding Purdy.
“It will come down to whether we feel he can play to 100 percent of his ability and if we feel that he can protect himself,” Shanahan said.
Whoever plays quarterback for San Francisco might have limited weapons at his disposal. Tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) remain on injured reserve, and receivers Jauan Jennings (ankle/rib), Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jordan Watkins (calf) did not practice on Tuesday.
The 49ers badly want to beat the Rams, who swept San Francisco last season and have won the past three meetings.
Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford isn’t concerned about the modest streak. He is more concerned about the fierce test the 49ers pose.
“I think they’re a really well-rounded football team, always have been,” Stafford said. “When we play them, it’s a bare-knuckles physical fight. They’re gonna try to run the ball right at you, play-action it over the top, and on defense, they’re gonna line up, know exactly what they’re in and just try to out-physical you. So it’s a big challenge for us, but a lot of credit to them because they’ve done a heck of a job with some injuries along the way early on.”
Stafford passed for a season-high 375 yards on Sunday in a 27-20 comeback victory over the visiting Indianapolis Colts.
Stafford tossed a tying 9-yard scoring pass to Puka Nacua with 3:20 to play, then connected with Tutu Atwell for an 88-yard touchdown catch with 1:33 left on the first play of the Rams’ next possession.
The touchdown was the first of the season for Nacua, who had 13 catches for a regular-season career-best 170 yards against the Colts. He leads the NFL with both 42 receptions and 503 receiving yards, which is 101 more receiving yards than second-place Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
“He’s consistent, you know he can get open,” Rams wideout Davante Adams said of Nacua. “He’s got a lot more tools than people realize. Great, great hands and strong at the catch point. And he’s obviously really tough to bring down once he’s running with the ball.”
Tight end Tyler Higbee (hip) and offensive lineman Rob Havenstein (ankle) are among the Rams dealing with injuries.
Defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (ankle) sat out the 49ers’ Tuesday walkthrough.
–Field Level Media
