San Francisco can breathe a sigh of relief.
Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Brock Purdy's MRI on Tuesday revealed that the quarterback suffered a right elbow contusion with nerve inflammation and avoided a long-term injury, but it will likely force him out of Sunday's season finale against the Arizona Cardinals.
"Most likely gonna miss this week, but no long-term issues," Shanahan told reporters on Tuesday. "UCL looks fine."
Purdy suffered the elbow injury with under two minutes remaining in Monday night's loss to the Detroit Lions. He went to the sideline after getting sacked by Brian Branch and didn't return after being seen trying to throw a football, signaling his displeasure by shaking his head to let the 49ers staff know something was wrong.
Another major injury to Purdy's right elbow was a scary thought in that moment after the 49ers QB tore his UCL in the 2022 NFC Championship Game, which required surgery and long rehab.
"I'm relieved, but I wasn't too worried about it just with the information we had last night. So it was good to just hear the same thing today," Shanahan said on Tuesday, adding that he will decide the 49ers' Week 18 starting QB "later in the day."
With his third season likely in the books, Purdy would finish with 3,864 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in a 2024 season turmoiled with injuries for San Francisco.
Purdy enters a crucial offseason ahead of what will be the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, and the 25-year-old is in line to receive a big-money extension, perhaps as soon as this spring.
