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49ers' Kyle Shanahan Makes Concerning Admission Amid Brock Purdy News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Paolo Songco | Last updated Sep 11, 2025 7:38 AM ET

It’s not just George Kittle who’s on the shelf for the San Francisco 49ers. As it turns out, quarterback Brock Purdy is also doubtful to play in the Niners’ Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints after head coach Kyle Shanahan admitted that the Pro Bowl QB is a “long shot” to take the field on Sunday.

The silver lining here is that the Niners have not ruled Purdy out just yet, whereas Kittle, who suffered a hamstring injury in their Week 1 win against the Seattle Seahawks, has been placed on injured reserve. Nevertheless, Shanahan’s comments clearly do not bode well for Purdy’s chances to suit up against the Saints due to toe and left shoulder injuries.

If Purdy is, as expected, unable to go on Sunday, offseason free agent recruit Mac Jones will probably take over the helm for his Niners debut. There aren’t many options for San Francisco behind Jones, though, which is why Shanahan is looking to add more depth.

"We'd like to [add another quarterback]," Shanahan said, via ESPN”s Nick Wagoner. "We just don't know if we can."

Based on the Niners’ coach’s admission, it does not seem likely that they will be able to bring in a new QB in time for Sunday’s game. Apart from Purdy and Kittle, they also have to worry about wide receiver Jauan Jennings (shoulder), who was unable to practice on Wednesday after being forced to exit the Seahawks game.

This puts the Niners in a difficult situation in terms of making any roster moves, which means that QB Adrian Martinez could be promoted from the practice squad for the Seahawks clash. Either way, there’s no denying that it hasn’t exactly been an ideal start to the new season for San Francisco.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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