49ers' Brock Purdy gives major hint about status for Cardinals game

On Thursday, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch insisted that backup quarterback Mac Jones' play in the club's 26-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 2 wouldn't impact when starter Brock Purdy returns from left shoulder and toe injuries. 

Later, Purdy hinted that he will be a game-time decision for Sunday's matchup versus the 2-0 Arizona Cardinals at San Francisco's Levi's Stadium.

Brock Purdy "trying to be smart" regarding eventual return

"[We've] just got to see come game time how I feel," Purdy said while speaking with reporters on Thursday, per ESPN's Nick Wagoner. "I want to play every game. I want to be out there. You only get 17 regular-season games, and every game matters, especially a divisional [game] going against the Cardinals. If you ask me, I'd love to, but I'm trying to be smart with my body here. You never know. We'll see when the game comes." 

Purdy completed 26-of-35 passes for 277 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions in San Francisco's 17-13 Week 1 win at the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 7. Considering how banged up he was by the end of that contest, this stat line is impressive.

"It's been a day-to-day thing this week, and I feel like I'm happy with the progress that I've been making with my foot and toe," Purdy added. "It's just going to be a day-to-day thing on how I feel. Nothing really more than that."

Mac Jones will be ready to start against Cardinals

Jones connected on 26-of-39 pass attempts for 279 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions against the Saints. The 27-year-old indicated he will be ready to go this Sunday if the 49ers elect to give Purdy more time to recover. 

During his Thursday appearance on San Francisco radio station KNBR, Lynch suggested that Purdy could serve as Jones' backup versus Arizona. 

"As a backup, you know you're not playing the first snap, and as a starter you are, so you've got to be ready for both," Jones explained. "At the end of the day, all the externals don't really matter. You just have to focus on the game plan and get everything tidied up by Sunday, and that's what I'm doing. It's just been like a normal week for me and following my schedule and getting ready to play if my number is called."

As of Friday morning, ESPN BET had the 49ers as 2.5-point home favorites over the Cardinals. It could be interesting to see how that line moves, if at all, once it's learned which quarterback will start for San Francisco in Week 3.