The Brock Purdy storyline has been an intriguing one this season. He was the last overall pick, No. 262, in last year's draft. The rookie quarterback got his first extended in-game action replacing an injured Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 13 against the Miami Dolphins.
Now, with nearly six full games under his belt, Purdy remains undefeated as a starting quarterback, helping the San Francisco 49ers extend their win streak to 10 games to close out the season.
On Saturday, Purdy will make his first playoff start. The 49ers will host the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium in an all-NFC West Wild Card Round loser-is-out bout. Any reflection on his journey so far will have to wait until after the season. Purdy and the 49ers are focused on ensuring their impressive run doesn't end this weekend.
"Right now, I'm looking at it like, Man, we've got the Seahawks," Purdy told reporters on Wednesday. "Yes, it's the playoffs, but for myself, I've got to do my job. I'm not trying to think about this storybook ending [or] anything like that. It's, Man, I've got a great defense I've got to play on [Saturday]. I've got to do my job in terms of getting the guys the ball, and all that will fall into place.
"But I'm definitely thankful for everything that has happened, but we still have a ways to go."
After Sunday's win over the Arizona Cardinals, tight end George Kittle threw Purdy's name into the hat for the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year award. The quarterback's playing time didn't come until later in the season, but he finished having completed 67.1 percent of his passes for 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions.
"I don't know how he's not [in the conversation for Offensive Rookie of the Year]," Kittle said. "He hasn't lost. He's put up great numbers. He doesn't have very many turnovers. He has touchdowns. He has passing yards. And he's on a hot streak. So I think Brock should 100 percent be in that conversation. I know other guys played the entire season, but for a rookie quarterback to come in play the way that he has, that's pretty special, and I don't really know anyone else who has played at a level he's played at."
What does Purdy think about the endorsement from his teammate?
"I don't try to get wrapped up in any of that kind of stuff," Purdy said. "For me, I've got to win. As good of a team that we have, I've got to just come in, do my job, and let everything else fall into place. ... I don't want to get wrapped up in all that stuff. It will happen if it happens. Whoever wins it, wins it. Great. But I'm just trying to be where I'm at, be where my feet are at."
