49ers Face Uncertainty as Brock Purdy’s Shoulder Injury Puts Backup QB Brandon Allen in the Spotlight

The San Francisco 49ers are navigating a challenging period with star quarterback Brock Purdy sidelined due to a shoulder injury. Purdy, who has started every game for the 49ers this season, experienced shoulder discomfort during practice last week and has been ruled out for the team’s Week 12 game against the Green Bay Packers.

With Purdy unavailable, backup quarterback Brandon Allen is set to make his first start for the 49ers. Allen, who signed with the team in May 2023 as the third-choice quarterback, last started an NFL game in the 2021 season for the Cincinnati Bengals. His career stats include nine starts, a 2-7 record, 1,611 passing yards, 10 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan has downplayed long-term concerns about Purdy’s injury, but the quarterback’s return remains uncertain. “We got the MRI on Monday, we really just thought he needed some rest. We really weren’t concerned about him not being good this week, but when he started up Thursday, it surprised him, it surprised us how [his shoulder] felt,” Shanahan said. The team will reassess Purdy’s status on Monday.

The 49ers are also dealing with injuries to other key players, including defensive stars Nick Bosa and Charvarious Ward, as well as offensive linemen Trent Williams and Jon Feliciano. This stretch of games against the Packers and the Buffalo Bills will be a critical test for the team’s offensive strategy and depth.

Grant Cohn, a 49ers Insider, has suggested that rookie quarterback Tanner Mordecai could be a potential future standout for the team, though this is based on limited data and impressions from training camp. For now, the focus is on how Brandon Allen will perform in Purdy’s absence.