San Francisco 49ers QB Purdy Expected to Start on TNF

The San Francisco 49ers can breathe a little easier. Quarterback Brock Purdy has been cleared to play through his oblique and rib injuries and is expected to start in tonight's crucial Thursday Night Football showdown with the Seattle Seahawks.

49ers' rookie QB Brock Purdy, listed as questionable for tonight due to oblique and rib injuries, is expected to start vs. the Seahawks, per league sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2022

Purdy had been limited in practice all week with his ribs and oblique, earning a questionable tag on the 49ers' final injury report. He played through the injuries in his spectacular first career start, completing 16 of 21 passes for 185 passing yards and two touchdowns and adding another touchdown on the ground in Week 14's 35-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Purdy's availability should allow the 49ers to field a strong team against their division-rival Seahawks tonight and possibly wrap up the NFC West. A win would give the 49ers an insurmountable three-game lead with three games to play. The 49ers would also hold the tie-breaker; they already demolished the Seahawks 27-7 in Week 2 in their first matchup.

The last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft (aka Mr. Irrelevant), Purdy has kept the 49ers shockingly dominant following Jimmy Garoppolo's regular season-ending foot injury in Week 13. Purdy has led his team to consecutive blowouts against likely playoff teams, outscoring the Miami Dolphins and Buccaneers a combined 68-24. The rookie's fast start makes the early-career struggles of 2021 third-overall pick Trey Lance all the more troubling.