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When 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy scampered into the end zone Sunday in Cleveland, the team’s radio broadcaster made sure every fan listening understood the significance of the moment.
“The toe looks JUST FINE,” Jack Smith said over the KNBR airwaves.
Purdy, who had missed eight games this season with a toe injury, faked a handoff to Christian McCaffrey and raced left before darting into the end zone. The quarterback needed to advance only two yards to score, but he ran a lot more than that on a play that indicated he’s as healthy as he’s been since Week 1 of the regular season.
Smith sounded like a seasoned pro during Sunday’s broadcast, but the truth is that the Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) graduate and recent USC alumnus is relatively new to football.
In this episode of “Section 415,” the play-by-play broadcaster details his preparation process, how he built chemistry with analyst Tim Ryan, and what it means to Smith to fill in for the voice of the 49ers’ Greg Papa, who is missing this season’s games due to health issues.