49ers will start third different quarterback this season in Sunday finale at Arizona
SANTA CLARA — Josh Dobbs will start in place of the injured Brock Purdy when the last-place 49ers (6-10) close their season Sunday at the Arizona Cardinals (7-9).
Purdy was among several players not practicing Wednesday, having sustained an elbow contusion that caused nerve irritation with about 1 1/2 minutes remaining in Monday night’s 40-34 defeat to the Detroit Lions.
Purdy’s injury was to his surgically repaired throwing elbow, but it was not deemed a long-term issue by coach Kyle Shanahan. Purdy should slot back in as the starter once the offseason program begins in some 3 1/2 months, presuming he does not hold out for a contract extension that he’s eligible to receive at season’s end.
Dobbs will be the 49ers’ third different starting quarterback this season, and it’s the fifth time in eight seasons Shanahan has needed to deploy a starting trio, with only Jimmy Garoppolo starting every game in a season (2019) and Purdy skipping the 2023 regular-season finale out of precaution with the No. 1 seed intact.
Brandon Allen started over Dobbs in the Nov. 24 loss at Green Bay while Purdy sat out with a right shoulder injury.
Dobbs is slated to speak with the media Thursday. Shanahan said of Dobbs’ practice work this season: “He’s been great, him and Brandon. I’ve looked at both of them as our (No.) 2 throughout the year. Both have given really good looks in the scout team. They split reps there, and they’re always ready.”
Once Purdy got injured Monday night, Dobbs came on for his 49ers’ debut, completed 3-of-4 passes (35 yards), and scored on a last-minute, 7-yard touchdown run;
“He’s a dynamic player, obviously a proven winner who’s been able to go in a different organizations and win there on short notice, so I’m excited for him and his opportunity,” linebacker Fred Warner said.
Dobbs is 3-11 all-time as an NFL starter, going 1-7 last year for the Cardinals and then 2-2 with the Minnesota Vikings upon being traded there after Kirk Cousins’ Achilles tear. Dobbs lost his first two starts with the 2022 Tennessee Titans.
Dobbs’ last win coming last season for the Cardinals at State Farm Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3; Dobbs lost to the host 49ers the following week.
He was a 2017 fourth-round draft pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers out of Tennessee, where he was teammates with Jauan Jennings, who is 77 yards shy of his first 1,000-yard season. “I hope he knows that,” Jennings said with a laugh. “We’ll play the game and see where it gets me. (The 1,000-yard mark) means a lot. I haven’t played receiver my entire life, so I take pride in 1,000 yards.”
While Dobbs and Allen split time as the scout team quarterback and Purdy’s backup, the 49ers also carried a fourth quarterback all season on the practice squad, undrafted rookie Tanner Mordecai, who figures to suit up Sunday as the No. 3 quarterback.
HEALTH UPDATES
Shanahan said none of the 49ers’ new injuries are too serious. Sitting out Wednesday’s practice along with Purdy: wide receiver Deebo Samuel (ribs, wrist); tight end George Kittle (ankle, hamstring); defensive ends Nick Bosa (knee), Leonard Floyd (shoulder) and Robert Beal (ankle); offensive linemen Colton McKivitz (knee) and Spencer Burford (calf); cornerbacks Deommodore Lenoir (shoulder) and Isaac Yiadom (pelvis); and linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf).
Limited were wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (illness, chest) and safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle).
Warner said his ankle, in which he sustained a fracture three months ago, will not require surgery in the offseason. “For sure there’s improvement there,” Warner said. “It’s just taken one week at a time and once the season is over I’ll let it fully get back to itself.”
AIYUK UPDATE
Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is making a speedy recovery from reconstructive surgery on his right knee, having torn the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments Oct. 20 against the Chiefs. Aiyuk was seen elevating and taking 18-foot jump shots in a basketball competition with Ronnie Bell in the locker room. Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed Aiyuk’s surgery just as he did the ACL repairs of Nick Bosa, Garoppolo and Jerick McKinnon in past years.
WARD BEAMING
Cornerback Charvarius Ward returned to the team after attending Saturday’s birth of his healthy son, Charvarius Jr., in the Dallas area. “He’s healthy, doing good and he’s home,” Ward said of his son (6 pounds, 4 ounces; 19 inches). Ward did not play in Monday night’s game, and missed three games earlier this season following the unexpected death of his 23-month-old daughter, Amani Joy.
CARDS’ CONNER TO IR
The Cardinals will be without their top three running backs, including James Conner, their 1,094-yard rusher who Wednesday joined fellow running backs Trey Benson and Emari Demercado on injured reserve because of a lingering knee issue. Michael Carter was promoted from the practice squad to the active roster, and the Cardinals can also turn to DeeJay Dallas and Tony Jones Jr.
PLAY CALL QUESTION
The 49ers had only three runs, including Dobbs’ score, among 29 plays in the second half of Monday’s shootout. “I thought we needed to throw it to win,” Shanahan said. “I think I threw it 16 times in a row. I didn’t plan on doing that. I also didn’t plan on having some of those penalties. … Our plan going into that game was we knew we were going to have to throw it a lot more to win.”
Having new players at left tackle and left guard factored into the equation, but so did the Lions’ defensive matchups, not to mention Detroit’s high-scoring offense. “I thought it was easier to get yards throwing the ball than running, and when you’re in a game where you feel you’ve got to score every series, you’re not going to be as patient with something,” Shanahan said. “They’re a real good run defense, the way they commit to it.”