San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

49ers announce shocking Brock Purdy update ahead of Week 8

By Eric Smithling | Last updated 10/29/23

In a stunning turn of events, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is expected to start in Week 8 against the Bengals after he cleared concussion protocol on Tuesday.

The second-year quarterback "has no injury designation against the Cincinnati Bengals," per the team's website.

On Friday, ESPN's Nick Wagoner reported there was "a realistic chance" he would start after he returned to practice on a limited basis on Thursday and then entirely on Friday. Purdy entered the concussion protocol on Tuesday, one day after he took a helmet-to-helmet hit in the fourth quarter of San Francisco's Monday night loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

Here’s the moment Brock Purdy took a blow to the head. pic.twitter.com/YZU1cWbhbU
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) October 25, 2023

Per Wagoner, Purdy "passed four of the league's five steps in the concussion protocol" by Friday, with the final step requiring the quarterback "to be cleared for full contact by the Niners' team physician and be examined by an independent neurological consultant."

"If the independent consultant agrees with the team physician that his concussion has resolved, he can play against the Bengals," Wagoner wrote.

Purdy is the first player this season to be cleared to play the week he entered concussion protocol. On Wednesday, Schefter noted Steelers quarterback Kenny Pickett (Week 7 of the 2022 season) was the last player to start the week following a concussion.

Brock Purdy is now unlikely to play Sunday vs. the Bengals based on this trend: No NFL player placed into concussion protocol this season has played the same week. The last player to be in concussion protocol who played the same week was 2022, when Kenny Pickett had a concussion… https://t.co/vYWBmhIkoX
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 25, 2023

Pickett left Pittsburgh's game against Tampa Bay in the third quarter last season but was able to return a week later against the Dolphins. He was 32-of-44 for 257 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions in a 16-10 loss.

The 49ers have the clearance to start Purdy and likely will. Whether it's the right move is up for debate. The league's concussion protocol received scrutiny last season after Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa appeared to suffer a concussion in back-to-back weeks early in the season. The first, while initially ruled a head injury, was later declared a back injury, and he was allowed to return to the game.

All eyes will be on Purdy on Sunday, both to see how he bounces back from consecutive losses and how he looks after suffering a concussion six days earlier.

More must-reads: