29 January 2023 , 20:47
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San Francisco 49ers rookie sensation Brock Purdy has suffered an elbow injury and has been taken out of the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, only for his replacement, Josh Johnson, to also suffer an injury and be taken out of the game.
Purdy was crushed by Eagles defensive star Haason Reddick in a brutal sack that saw the reigning Mr. Irrelevant fumble, which was recovered by Philadelphia and led to a turnover after the initial incomplete pass call was overturned. Purdy was taken out of the game immediately, with fourth-string quarterback Johnson brought in.
Purdy has entered the medical tent and was captured practicing his throwing motion on the side. The 23-year-old was also seen talking to 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan as he appeared to say he couldn't throw.
Prior to his exit, Purdy had completed both of his passing attempts for 19 yards. No rookie quarterback has ever reached the Super Bowl - but Purdy is just one win away and may not get his chance to secure a trip to Arizona.
Purdy - who became the first rookie quarterback to win on his playoff debut since Russell Wilson in 2012 - is the reigning ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ after he was selected with the 262nd and final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. His path has been remarkable, transitioning from third-string quarterback to starter as the replacement when sophomore Trey Lance and veteran Jimmy Garoppolo went down with injuries.
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Purdy has impressed since stepping in at quarterback and he is a perfect 6-0 in his young career. He is thriving thanks to a loaded roster that features an offence littered with playmakers like Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk as well as the NFL’s top-ranked defence.
Brock Purdy went off injured after he was sacked by Haason Reddick, with the Philadelphia Eagles recovering the fumble (Seth Wenig/AP/REX/Shutterstock)The former Iowa State star has not looked back since taking the reins, leading the 49ers on an unbeaten run. He has certainly silenced his doubters; his draft report labelled him as having 'average arm strength', a 'laboured release' and 'confidence and consistency issues'.
Across his incredible run, Purdy's 116.0 passer rating is the highest in the NFL this season, while his 16 passing touchdowns to four interceptions is also the league's best TD-INT ratio. His average of 8.7 yards per attempt is second only to Miami Dolphins signal-caller Tua Tagovailoa, with 8.9.
The 49ers' hopes of reaching a second Super Bowl in four years will be dealt a crushing blow if Purdy is unable to return to action at Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles lead 7-0 in the second quarter.