Brock Purdy sends warning to NFL after successful return to 49ers lineup

Quarterback Brock Purdy enjoyed a successful return to the San Francisco 49ers lineup when he guided the club to an impressive 41-22 win over the Arizona Cardinals that improved San Francisco to 7-4 this past Sunday. 

While speaking with NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated for a piece published Tuesday, Purdy indicated he has already shaken off any rust that had accumulated during the fall. 

Brock Purdy feels he will be "good moving forward" 

"Six weeks off in-season for me, mentally, it was, 'I want to jump back in and get to where I was,'" Purdy explained. "It’s part of the game where, as a quarterback, you want to get into a rhythm." 

Purdy got into that rhythm by completing a pair of passes before he connected with tight end George Kittle for a 30-yard score in the first quarter of Sunday's game. From there, it was largely smooth sailing for the 49ers. 

"So to have a couple plays before that, get some good completions, and some chunks of yards throwing the ball down the field, it felt good. And then to have Kittle to cap off the drive on an explosive down the field, that felt pretty good," Purdy continued. "I guess, mentally, it was, 'We’re back, I’m into a rhythm, and it’s gonna be good moving forward.'"

San Francisco backup Mac Jones went 5-3 across the eight games that Purdy missed due to a toe injury he suffered in Week 1 and then aggravated in Week 4. As recently as last week, some suggested the 49ers should stick with Jones over a version of Purdy who may be hobbled through January (or even February).

However, Purdy silenced such chatter when he completed 19-of-26 passes for 200 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Cardinals. During his chat with Breer, Purdy insisted he wasn't bothered by his toe at all in Week 11.  

Brock Purdy took big positive away from return to lineup

"I felt great going into the game in terms of my toe, my health and everything," Purdy added. "Percentage-wise, I don’t really know. I wouldn’t say I’m 100% — but pretty close. And I think just, overall, when I got out on the field, I didn’t think about my toe. I was just going through my reads, dropping back, playing quarterback. Scrambling and rolling out and everything, it felt fine. I didn’t think about it once. That was positive." 

Purdy's toe will now get some extra rest, as the 49ers next host the Carolina Panthers (6-5) for a "Monday Night Football" showdown on Nov. 24. As of Tuesday afternoon, ESPN BET had the Niners as seven-point favorites for that matchup.