49ers’ Brock Purdy healthy again, aiming for sharper rhythm after bye week

Brock Purdy says his toe injury has fully healed as the 49ers prepare for their Week 15 matchup with the Titans. Head coach Kyle Shanahan wants faster reads and improved rhythm from his quarterback as San Francisco pushes for the NFC’s top seed.

Purdy confirms toe recovery and return to full practice

Purdy told reporters that his toe feels really good after missing two games in November. He practiced without limitation this week and said push-off strength has returned. The 49ers listed no injury designation for him entering Sunday’s game. He was previously limited by pain when transferring weight on throws.

Shanahan said Purdy’s mechanics looked sharp and that his “footwork timing” had improved. The 49ers lead the NFL in yards per play at 6.3, but have averaged only 5.4 since Purdy’s injury. His health is a key variable as the team faces a Titans defense that ranks 27th in opponent passer rating.

Shanahan wants faster rhythm from his quarterback

The 49ers head coach stated that Purdy must stay aggressive while avoiding unnecessary hold time. “He’s fine; he just needs reps to get rhythm back,” Shanahan said. The quarterback averaged 3.14 seconds to throw this season, the second-longest mark in the NFL. That delay has contributed to 28 sacks in 11 games.

Purdy threw the ball away six times against Cleveland, and Shanahan praised that improvement, saying those plays avoided negative yardage. The team wants him to prioritize decision speed over improvisation as the offense regains full rhythm.

49ers offense adjusting without Brandon Aiyuk

San Francisco continues to operate without wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who remains inactive after ACL surgery. The club voided his 2026 contract guarantees after he was placed on the reserve list in October. Tight end George Kittle said the offense “misses what he brings after the catch.” Without Aiyuk, Kittle, and Deebo Samuel have accounted for 57 percent of the team’s total targets over the last four games.

The 49ers rank sixth in passing yards and fifth in yards after catch per reception. Shanahan’s play-calling has shifted toward condensed formations and heavier motion to compensate for Aiyuk’s absence. That adjustment has maintained balance but lowered average air yards per attempt from 8.9 to 7.1 since Week 9.

Trade speculation around Joe Burrow dismissed

Media speculation linking the 49ers to a Joe Burrow trade scenario surfaced earlier this week after a national analyst suggested San Francisco would “have to consider” a move if an elite quarterback became available. Reports from Yahoo Sports and ESPN confirmed Burrow has not requested a trade and remains under contract with Cincinnati through 2029. The discussion was hypothetical and not team-driven.

Purdy said he has not paid attention to external talk, adding that his focus is on “winning each week and getting healthy.” He has completed 68.9 percent of his passes this season with a 97.1 passer rating. That production ranks eighth among qualified quarterbacks.