Brock Purdy spent three hours Sunday reminding everyone why coach Kyle Shanahan entrusted him with the keys to the 49ers’ kingdom this offseason despite the second-year pro coming off UCL repair surgery.
Purdy completed 19 of his 29 attempts and threw two touchdown passes in the 49ers’ 2023 season-opening 30-7 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.
In the eyes of NBC Sports Bay Area analyst Donte Whitner, the 2022 seventh-round draft pick did nothing against the Steelers to shake Shanahan’s faith in him.
“49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan already has more confidence and trust in quarterback Brock Purdy after just nine games than he ever did in Jimmy Garoppolo,” Whitner said in the latest episode of “Hitner’s Hot Take”. “And it’s because of [Purdy’s] decision making, his accuracy, his arm strength and ability to stay calm under pressure. We saw all of this and more in the 49ers’ blowout Week 1 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Purdy made all the right decisions in the win against the Steelers, including hitting Brandon Aiyuk for two perfectly thrown touchdown passes, the second of which was a fade route to the side of the right end zone .
The 23-year-old was able to squeeze passes into tight windows, and he hit his receivers lightly, allowing them to do what they do best — run after the catch.
Purdy has now started six regular-season career games and won them all. In all seven regular season games he played in, he threw at least two touchdown passes, tying Joe Montana and Steve Young for the second-longest streak in 49ers history, behind only said Jeff Garcia.
Given how well Shanahan’s offense has Purdy command, Whitner sees big things in the future for the 49ers.
“If Brock Purdy continues to play at this high level, I’m rooting for the 49ers to win the Super Bowl,” Whitner concluded.
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