49ers’ Mike Purcell had to wait a while for 1st action

49ers’ Mike Purcell had to wait a while for 1st action

[...] recently, one of the 49ers’ stars of the summer had been forgotten in the fall.

Defensive lineman Mike Purcell was a tackle-making machine in the preseason, which allowed him to make the 53-man roster, which allowed him to … sit.

[...] wait.

On Sunday, Purcell was clearly prepared when he made his first NFL start in a 19-13 loss to Arizona.

The undrafted free agent had three tackles, the 49ers’ lone sack and was part of a stout front that limited the Cardinals to 70 rushing yards and 2.4 yards a carry.

Defensive coordinator Eric Mangini likened Purcell’s professional approach to that of defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey, 30, an eight-year veteran.

First-round pick Arik Armstead played most of the snaps after Dorsey was injured and the rookie was expected to start against the Cardinals.

Head coach Jim Tomsula said Armstead played limited snaps because of a shoulder injury, which made him probable for the game.

[...] Purcell is a better run defender than Armstead and the 49ers were coming off a game in which they allowed 255 rushing yards against the Seahawks.

Dorsey probably won’t be ready for the start of the regular season, nose tackle Ian Williams will be an unrestricted free agent and defensive tackle Tony Jerod-Eddie will be a restricted free agent.