49ers’ Brock Purdy Says ‘Arm Was on Fire’ Amid Injury Against Lions

Brock Purdy (13) of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass the ball against the Detroit Lions during the third quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Dec. 30, 2024. Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

For the second time in recent years, the San Francisco 49ers missed a Super Bowl chance as quarterback Brock Purdy dealt with an elbow injury.

Albeit the Super Bowl chance was nixed much sooner this time in a 6–10 season, and Purdy’s elbow condition this time around could be less severe than the first. Purdy injured his elbow on Monday night in a 40–34 loss to the Detroit Lions (14–2), but early testing looks more promising than the injury that required surgery in 2023.

“We did some tests with UCL stuff, and I’m good in that regard,” Purdy told reporters afterward. “But we’ve just got to go get imaging on it tomorrow and see the whole thing.”

That said, the initial impact sidelined Purdy, and backup Josh Dobbs took over as Purdy attended to his arm. Purdy’s injury occurred during Lions safety Brian Branch’s sack in the fourth quarter.

“I got hit on the backside and basically just my arm was on fire kind of thing,” Purdy said. “I tried throwing a couple on the sideline and I couldn’t at that point.”

Similarly, Purdy couldn’t get throwing again in the NFC Championship Game almost two years ago against the Philadelphia Eagles. Already decimated at quarterback, the 49ers had to go with running back Christian McCaffrey filling the role in a 31–7 defeat.

Purdy had surgery and spent that offseason rehabbing before he could really throw again. Nonetheless, it didn’t stop Purdy from having an MVP-caliber season in 2023 and a Super Bowl appearance.

“I know everyone when they hear about Brock’s elbow and stuff, just like me, you think of the elbow injury from a couple of years ago,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Monday. “But just talking to the doctors, he just got hit in the right spot. When you get hit there, your nerves go and you can’t feel much, but hopefully it will be alright.”

San Francisco has one more game left in an injury-riddled season in which the team fell short of the postseason. Purdy hopes to play the final game in Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals (7–9).

“We’re at a professional level and this is as good as it gets,” Purdy said. “So, for me, it’s like, why wouldn’t I play for my team and try to get some momentum going for the next year with our guys and make a statement to everybody here and that’s going to be here next year, that I’m a competitor? I want to be out on the field any chance that I get. That’s my mindset.”

Purdy has completed 65.9 percent of his passes this season for 3,864 yards and 20 touchdowns versus 12 interceptions. He will enter the final year of his four-year, $3.7 million rookie deal in 2025.