Two of the 49ers most important players arrived in Pittsburgh with something to prove in Sunday’s season opener.
While edge rusher Nick Bosa was just three days removed from ending his six-week holdout due to a lengthy contract negotiation, Brock Purdy was six months out from an elbow surgery after injuring his UCL in last season’s NFC Championship.
Both players performed well in the dominating 30-7 win over the Steelers, as Purdy threw for two touchdowns and Bosa made his impact felt in 33 snaps.
Just listen to All-Pro 49ers tackle Trent Williams, who gave Purdy his flowers after the second-year quarterback went 19-of-29 for 220 yards and two scores.
“You see we voted him a team captain,” Williams said. “Obviously, you can see how he played today. You can’t tell he was hurt. We’re proud of Brock, man. He’s took everything in stride and become our leader, and become a quarterback that we can lean on.”
While those numbers weren’t spectacular, Purdy showed supreme control of the offense, which was remarkably efficient while the Niners scored the first 20 points of the game to put it to bed before halftime.
“Purdy shut some haters up,” Bosa said. “People kinda don’t expect him to make a leap in the second year. I’m just happy for him. He’s exactly who we thought he was.”
By the time he arrived on the field, Purdy said he had shaken out any post-injury cobwebs. It was all about winning on Sunday.
“I think more in camp I felt like that,” Purdy said. “Right there in that moment (after the opening touchdown) it was like, ‘This is what we’re supposed to do.’ This is what we expect out of ourselves. Once I hit that touchdown, I wasn’t thinking about surgery or anything like that. It was, ‘Man, we’re here to win. This is it. This is how we’re gonna play. That’s where I was at mentally.”
Shutting up Patrick Peterson was probably a nice cherry on top for Purdy, too.
On the other side of the ball, the 49ers defense dominated, sacking Kenny Pickett five times and forcing two interceptions. It’s worth noting that Bosa didn’t get in the sack column, but he had two tackles and set the edge, lining up on the right side most of the game while the Steelers had just 41 rushing yards on the afternoon.
Each of the Steelers first five drives only lasted three plays as the 49ers built their early lead. Bosa only missed three first-half snaps before his snap count decreased in the third and fourth quarters, but the game was all but decided by then.
“Felt good. Body held up good,” Bosa said. “I played pretty much the exact amount of snaps we were hoping for. And the 3-and-outs helped me not go too hard early. But the body felt great, that was the No. 1 thing. And a win’s always nice.”
Even though he didn’t get any sack-a-roonies, Bosa still had a big impact on the game, according to defensive captain Fred Warner.
“He didn’t have a sack so he was a little upset about that,” Warner said with a laugh. “But just having him out there was a huge boost, not only for our defense, but our team … Anytime he’s out there on the field, he’s one of the best defensive players in the NFL, so they gotta account for him every single play.”
Numbers aside, the most important thing was that both Bosa and Purdy made it through the game injury-free. Purdy might have made some people nervous with his scrambles – and his arm got hit while throwing on a couple of occasions – but he looked like the same signal-caller who led the team to eight straight wins to wrap up last season.
“I think he attacked his rehab, as everybody can see,” Williams said. “Can’t tell the difference between him prior to surgery and post surgery. I think he did everything he was asked to do in the offseason and the team noticed it, which is why he’s got a ‘C’ on his chest (for being a captain). I’m just so proud of him, man, watching his journey coming in to right now. He’s a dream to work with.”
