Let's start by acknowledging that this scenario is highly unlikely to unfold. While Brock Purdy's status for Sunday's playoff rematch between the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers remains uncertain, the team does not appear to view his shoulder injury as a long-term concern.
On Friday morning, general manager John Lynch confirmed that veteran Brandon Allen will get the start if Purdy cannot play this weekend. Beyond that, the 49ers are optimistic that Purdy will return to the lineup and be ready to face the remaining six opponents on the schedule.
He hasn't even been ruled out of this weekend's game yet.
Purdy underwent an MRI earlier this week, and according to Lynch, the results didn't reveal anything alarming.
"We feel good about where it's at from that standpoint," Lynch said. "But still, you have to be able to go out and operate. And so, we're kind of figuring all that out. Brock's going to show up here today, and we'll see where he can go in terms of practice, and we'll make some decisions accordingly."
Meanwhile, the New York Giants announced on Friday that they had agreed to release quarterback Daniel Jones, a former No. 6 overall pick who has struggled to meet expectations. With his significant salary cap hit, Jones is all but guaranteed to clear waivers, making him free to sign with any team.
This development sparked speculation from Christian D'Andrea of For The Win about potential landing spots for the underperforming quarterback, who has 69 NFL starts on his résumé. Surprisingly, one of the five destinations D'Andrea proposed was the 49ers.
"Brock Purdy is dealing with a sore shoulder and has missed practice time leading up to Week 12's showdown with the Green Bay Packers," D'Andrea noted. "In 2023, Kyle Shanahan could have turned to Sam Darnold as his backup. In 2024, he'll be reduced to throwing Brandon Allen into the lineup.
"As such, Shanahan and general manager John Lynch could opt for another former top 10 pick to operate his emergency offense. The Niners' run-after-catch wizardry would be a boon for Jones, who rode a short-range, quick-hitting offense to a 9-7-1 season with New York in 2022. He'd also help Shanahan prove, hey, he can make San Francisco's offense click with just about anyone behind center."
Of course, even if the 49ers were interested in Jones, he wouldn't be ready to play against the Packers. Additionally, if Purdy's injury sidelines him beyond this weekend, Jones is unlikely to make a significant impact on the offense.
Given Jones' struggles in New York, the 49ers might be better off sticking with Allen if Purdy is unavailable. Allen has spent the last two seasons in the 49ers' system and has a deeper understanding of head coach Kyle Shanahan's expectations than Jones could develop in such a short timeframe.
If Shanahan is eager to demonstrate his ability to make his offense click with just about anyone behind center, success with Allen under center would certainly validate that claim.
Jones has thrown for 2,070 yards, eight touchdowns, and seven interceptions through 10 games this season, with a 2-8 record as a starter. While his potential landing spot remains uncertain, it's a safe bet that he won't land with the 49ers this season.
