Purdy avoids serious elbow injury, unlikely to play season finale

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy avoided a serious right elbow injury but likely won't play in the team's season finale against the Arizona Cardinals, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Tuesday.

Purdy was diagnosed with a right elbow bruise that has some nerve inflammation, but the injury has no long-term implications. Shanahan added there is no decision yet about which backup quarterback, Joshua Dobbs or Brandon Allen, will start in Purdy's place.

The quarterback left Sunday night's loss to the Detroit Lions and didn't return after he was sacked by Brian Branch late in the fourth quarter. Purdy was 27-for-35, throwing for 377 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions before exiting.

The third-year passer said after the loss his elbow was "on fire," but an MRI confirmed it wasn't a UCL problem. He had surgery on his right elbow in January 2023 after sustaining a UCL injury in the NFC Championship Game.

Purdy likely finishes the season with 3,864 yards and 25 touchdowns, with a passer rating of 96.1. The 49ers are 6-10 and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020.