Losing one of your best players is never good. Least of all when it's your quarterback. The loss of such a vital player, even if just for a handful of weeks, can throw a season into a lurch. The San Francisco 49ers are in that lurch now, with the news that Brock Purdy will miss several weeks due to turf toe. The injury to his toes comes on the heels of the 49ers' win over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
A win that nearly didn't happen thanks to some less-than-optimal play from Purdy, the team's $200 million-plus man. As one of the 15 highest-paid players in the NFL, Purdy's hefty contract comes with the idea that he'll produce like other elite players at his position. Many didn't think he was worth the contract, claiming him to be nothing more than a system quarterback who got overpaid. Others believe he's the catalyst that drives the engine that is the San Francisco 49ers offense.
49ers Are in a Worse Place After Brock Purdy's Injury Than We Realize
The hope was that this season would fortify his value to the team, and those who believe him to be just a system guy would be silenced by his production. Now, with the injury, the 49ers find themselves in an even worse situation.
See, the Niners are now in an impossible situation. If Purdy is 'the guy', then it's unlikely the team can, in fact, win without him. At least, win more than they lose. It's possible the Niners can squeak out a win or two without Purdy; the team is talented enough, but if Purdy misses five games (or more), then you could be looking at a 1-5, 2-4, or (likely best-case scenario) a 3-3 record by the time he comes back.
That puts the team behind the eight-ball in a division that will likely be quite competitive.
However, what if the Niners don't struggle? What if the 49ers somehow have a 4-2, 5-1, or even a 6-0 record upon Purdy's return? That throws the narrative that Purdy is overpaid for a system back not only back into the spotlight as a talking point, but it would give it serious credence to the argument for it. After all, if the team can find success without Purdy, then how can one deny that he's as necessary as his contract says?
Sure, there's a chance that the team struggles offensively, yet wins more than it loses without Purdy, but even then, the argument would still stand. Purdy would not be a guy that the team ultimately needs. That kind of discourse would be loud, toxic, and could affect things far more than we realize.
In no way is this injury a good thing, and we're hoping the Niners can showcase how deep they are talent-wise, while also highlighting the importance of Purdy to this team while he's out.