SANTA CLARA — Yes, Brock Purdy is making a fabulous first impression as a starting quarterback, from delivering three wins to playing hurt to even distributing a wholesome Christmas card throughout the 49ers’ locker room.
Seven months ago, when he showed up as the last pick of the draft, his teammates made quite an impression themselves.
“I could tell they have one mission: Everyone is hungry to win the whole thing. That hasn’t changed,” Purdy said Wednesday.
The NFC West-champion 49ers (10-4) are adamant they have no plan to ease off their throttle, regardless of whether or not they can climb up from the No. 3 seed when the playoffs open in a month.
“We all want to win. If that takes a rookie quarterback, so be it,” said Purdy, who’ll make his third straight start in Saturday’s home game against the Washington Commanders (7-6-1).
The urgency to win a championship — the 49ers’ first since the 1994 season — didn’t just spawn from their current seven-game win streak.
“I sort of sensed it from the jump,” Purdy recalled of the 49ers’ vibe in spring workouts. “The way meetings were ran, the way we went through OTAs and the structure of it, and the intensity from guys like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa and Trent (Williams), all those guys.
“They’ve gotten paid, they’ve done it all. Them coming in and the fire and drive they had in their eyes, I was like, ‘Man, there’s something different about this place,’ ” Purdy said. ” … They’re in it to win the whole thing.”
They’d much rather be heading to the Super Bowl on Feb. 12 than participate a week earlier in the Pro Bowl. Six 49ers made the Pro Bowl on Wednesday night — Bosa, Warner, Williams, tight end George Kittle, fullback Kyle Juszczyk and safety Talanoa Hufanga. Among the seven alternates are running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, and cornerback Charvarius Ward, but not linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
Purdy may be new to this NFL thing and he’s only two starts into his career but he acknowledged that it’s rare to be surrounded by so much Pro Bowl-caliber talent, adding: “You only get so many opportunities to win the whole thing, and guys in the locker room understand that.”
Tight end George Kittle certainly does. He emphatically spoke at his locker after Wednesday’s practice about his and the 49ers’ intentions.
“I want to win all three games so that we’re hot going into the playoffs. I don’t want to get cold,” Kittle said. “We have a rookie quarterback that needs all the reps he can get.”
That rookie quarterback gained respect and admiration for how he battled through oblique and rib injuries last Thursday night, when the 49ers won 21-13 at Seattle to secure the division title. He said there was “never a question” that he’d play, but what he and the 49ers did not know was whether a hit could make him feel worse and force him to the bench.
Since replacing Garoppolo after one series of a Dec. 4 win against Miami, Purdy is 58-of-84 for 612 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. Not only does he have just one turnover in that span but he’s also been sacked just once.
“It’s nice to use my legs a little bit to get out of the way in certain situations and have a good feel of when the ball needs to get out, rather than just being a statue, trying to through my reads and sort of being elusive in the pocket and getting the ball out to guys like Christian or George on check downs,” Purdy said. “That definitely helped me play throughout that game, and play safe.”
As for the Christmas card, it’s a picture of he and his roommates, offensive linemen Alfredo Gutierrez and Nick Zakelj. “I love that. I’ll hang it on my ‘fridge for sure,” Christian McCaffrey said.
KINLAW’S RETURN
Defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw practiced for the first time in three months, and the 49ers have three weeks to decide whether his right knee will cooperate enough to activate him off injured reserve.
“It’s refreshing to just see his presence. It’s cool to see him get back into the groove of playing football again,” defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans said. “He’s been on a long pathway to get back and has had a lot of struggles. I commend J.K. for his effort and persistence to get back to this point.”
PRAISING BRENDEL
Jake Brendel’s first year as the 49ers’ starting center is winning over Chris Foerster, the 49ers’ run-game coordinator and offensive line coach. “He runs the group and the room, and obviously he’s dealing with Trent (Williams) and Mike (McGlinchey) as vets, but Jake’s really taken ownership and he wants to do exactly what I want,” Foerster said. “He’s taken ownership and has ideas and thoughts.
“Man, it’s been fun to watch,” Foerster added. “He, (Aaron) Banks and (Spencer) Burford, each week they learn and grow, and sometimes they revert. Aaron, if we don’t get the full week of practice and routine, his game’s weren’t as good, not as clean. Same thing with Jake. Now they’re getting in a groove at the end of the season and you hope it carries on. But there’s still a learning curve.”
PARTICIPATION REPORT
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel (knee, ankle) remained out of practice and won’t play for a second straight game, although he won’t be officially ruled out until Thursday. The same goes for quarterback Jimmy Gaorppolo (foot) and defensive tackle Kevin Givens (knee). Safety Tarvarius Moore (illness, foot) was the only other 49er who did not practice Wednesday.
Cornerback Charvarius Ward practiced for a second straight day and remains limited, so he’s not officially out of the NFL’s concussion protocol. Defensive tackle Kerry Hyder Jr. (ankle) resumed practicing and was limited, as were Purdy, Christian McCaffrey (knee), Ambry Thomas (ankle) and Arik Armstead (ankle, foot).
The only Commanders player who didn’t practice was tackle Saahdiq Charles.
Source: www.mercurynews.com