Fowler: Purdy ‘prepared to use his mobility more’

Purdy and the 49ers made the most of several short fields in this one. After an interception by Sam Darnold on the Seahawks’ first drive of the game, Purdy led a short 18-yard drive that he capped with a two-yard touchdown pass to Mike Evans to give the Niners an early lead. Purdy would orchestrate a long scoring drive in the fourth quarter, completing seven passes for 89 yards, with his final completion resulting in a seven-yard touchdown to Brandin Cooks. The Seahawks became the first team to sack Purdy this season, bringing him down three times in the backfield in the second half, but Purdy was able to evade pressure for the entire second half. Purdy and the Niners get a juicy Week 6 matchup next Monday against the Commanders, where he will profile as a solid QB1.

Purdy’s ten rushing attempts were a season high, and the product of Denver’s secondary blanketing Niners pass catchers for much of the game. Injuries to both starting Broncos corners eventually loosened things up for Purdy and the 49ers. He connected with George Kittle on a fourth quarter screen pass that went for a 58-yard score — the biggest play of the game. Purdy, who now has 11 touchdown passes through four games, is a weekly top-10 fantasy play even on his less-than-efficient days. He gets a tough matchup against Seattle in Week 5.

The 49ers offense had another fruitful fantasy day despite injuries haunting the team once again. Purdy showcased his mobility and athleticism, often making throws on the run and scrambling out of pressure. His first score was a completion to Mike Evans, who lateraled it to Deebo Samuel for the score. Purdy then threw a more traditional touchdown to Evans later in the first half, then threw two scores to George Kittle to seal the game in the second half. Despite losing Evans and LT Trent Williams by the third quarter, Purdy was still able to gash the Cardinals defense and surpass 300 total yards. Though the offense keeps losing pieces, Purdy in Kyle Shanahan’s scheme is a fantasy QB1 until further notice.

The Dolphins’ defense didn’t put up much of a fight, but Purdy was tremendous in this one. He bought extra time in the pocket when he needed to, made plays with his legs if the opportunities were there, and found open receivers over the middle of the field all game long. He may find the going a little bit tougher next week against the Cardinals, but probably not much. The bigger question will be who else can step up in the receiver room with Demarcus Robinson leaving this game with an ankle injury.

Purdy also added 29 yards on his five attempts. The veteran signal-caller did throw a terrible interception, but outside of that pick he played exceptionally well; even if most of his completions were for short yardage. All three passing scores came to different players, with his best throw being a perfectly placed touchdown to Deebo Samuel between two Rams’ defenders to cement the blowout. Purdy will look to keep it going in Week 2, and gets a friendly matchup against the Dolphins.

Jones, who could have started elsewhere this season if the Niners had found a trading partner, will now make $3.55 million in 2026, with another $2.25 million available in incentives. Jones will be a free agent after the 2026 season. The Niners reportedly wanted a first-round draft pick in exchange for Jones. The veteran threw for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions last season over eight games as the Niners’ starter. Jones in 2025 was tenth in EPA per drop back, just behind Sam Darnold and Patrick Mahomes.

The Kyler Murray experiment should be well underway by late November as Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings look to recover from their failed dalliance with J.J. McCarthy as the team’s starting quarterback. Murray will lead a quietly loaded Minnesota offense against Kyle Shanahan’s EPA-maximizing Niners offense. The last time Brock Purdy faced the Vikings defense he threw for 319 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a Week 2 2024 loss. Purdy took a season-high six sacks in that game.

Boston has a good chance of being on the draft board when the 49ers make their first round selection at No. 27 overall. Boston in his final collegiate season at Washington had 62 receptions for 881 receiving yards (14.2 yards per catch) and was tied for ninth in the FBS with 11 receiving touchdowns. Boston ranks 42nd in yards per route run among wideouts in the 2026 draft class. The big-bodied Boston would pair well with veteran Mike Evans, who signed with the Niners during free agency. With Evans, Boston, and George Kittle, Brock Purdy would have a range of excellent red zone options in 2026.

Jones is signed through the 2026 season but could see significant interest from quarterback-needy teams this spring. Howe said “with that talented roster and coach Kyle Shanahan, the Niners don’t want a season to go to waste if Purdy goes down again. Since Jones was a major reason the Niners stayed afloat in 2025, they could rightfully be stubborn and hold out for a first-round offer.” This, along with a recent report that the market for Jones is not expected to be “robust,” suggests the veteran will remain in San Francisco for at least one more season. Jones in 2025 was fifth among all QBs in drop back success rate. Purdy, meanwhile, led the NFL in success rate.

Brock Purdy and the Niners will be well traveled in 2026. They will play against the Rams in the first-ever NFL game in Australia along with the Mexico City outing. The 49ers will also fly across country twice in 2026 to face the Giants and Falcons, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. It would seem to be a demanding travel schedule for a team contending for a championship.