SANTA CLARA — Brock Purdy would love to be on the field when the 49ers host the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday but he also understands the importance if his long-term health.
On Thursday the quarterback addressed the media for the first time since sustaining a toe injury in the 49ers’ Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks.
“Definitely just got to see, come game time, how I feel,” Purdy said. “Obviously I want to play in every game. I want to be out there. We only get 17 regular season games and every game matters, especially divisional going against the Cardinals. If you ask me, I’d love to, but I’m trying to be smart with my body here, but you never know, we will see when the game comes.”
Purdy has been a limited participant in practice both Wednesday and Thursday after missing the entire week of practice heading into San Francisco’s game in New Orleans. The signal-caller shared that while he did sense that something was wrong with his foot during the game in Seattle, it wasn’t until later he realized how serious it might be.
“I think it was an accumulation of certain plays and different moments in the game,” Purdy said. ”I think I finished the game, and then more the adrenaline cool down. And then I was like, ‘Something is wrong with my toe here.’ I didn’t really know until after.”
During the early portion of this week’s practices, Purdy was seen dropping back, and throwing passes to the training staff to start, and then later, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.
Never having a foot or toe injury prior to Week 1, Purdy has a new-found appreciation for the importance of healthy feet. The quarterback shared that he went back and watched film and now realizes the need for explosiveness, even at his position.
“My mindset has always been, if I can play, you got to really take me off the field for something serious.” Purdy said. “But if I can walk and jog, and throw a football, then I’m good to go. That was more so my mindset.”
“You need to be all in and healthy to play the position of quarterback, so now I realize that.”
Purdy shared that he helped backup quarterback Mac Jones as much as he could during the 49ers’ Week 2 win, while hearing every play call in the headset. The Iowa State product’s desire to play is palpable, but it sounds like it will be a game time decision.
“It’s been a day to day thing this week and I feel like I’m happy with the progress I’m making with my foot and toe,” Purdy said. “More than anything it’s just going to be a day to day thing on how I feel. Nothing more to [it than] that.”
Kick of for the 49ers’ home opener with the Cardinals is 1:25 p.m. PT.
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