49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had to exit in the first quarter of Sunday’s NFC Championship against the Philadelphia Eagles with an elbow injury.
Purdy was injured when Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick sacked Purdy after beating tight end Tyler Kroft on the right side of the offensive line. Veteran Josh Johnson took over with 4:50 left in the first quarter and guided the 49ers offense, but he had to exit in the third quarter after hitting his head on the ground on a quarterback takedown.
Purdy returned in the third quarter but is didn't pass the ball in his first two series back with the 49ers offense.
The 49ers quarterback room has been decimated by injury this seaosn, as Trey Lance (foot/ankle) was lost in Week 2 and Jimmy Garoppolo (foot/ankle) was injured in Week 13. Purdy, the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has been a remarkable story since taking over for Garoppolo, posting 18 total touchdowns and 3 interceptions while leading the 49ers to eight straight wins entering Sunday.
Garoppolo is rehabbing but was unavailable for Sunday’s game, though there's a chance he could be ready if the Niners make the Super Bowl. It marked the first playoff action in Johnson's 10-year NFL career.
After getting hurt initially, Purdy was working out on the sideline trying to get back on the field.
It was a rough start to the game for the 49ers, as All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner missed a few plays on the game's opening drive with a stinger and All-Pro defensive end Nick Bosa was also caught by TV cameras laboring on the sideline late in the first quarter after getting leg whipped on a play that spilled out of bounds.
Related
