If we’re looking at hindsight, the moment Brock Purdy hit the field against the Miami Dolphins in relief of Jimmy Garoppolo, there was no way anyone was getting that San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback job back from him. Not Jimmy Garoppolo, not Trey Lance, nobody. With the quiet confidence he’s displayed in 2023, it was obvious he had this job before he injured his elbow in the NFC Championship game.
But when he stepped on the field, it was more, “who is this guy?” Well, it was a bit shaky at first, with some cautious playcalling.