NFL

49ers QB Purdy (toe) limited in return to practice

  • Nick WagonerOct 15, 2025, 05:32 PM ET

    Close

      Nick Wagoner is an NFL reporter at ESPN. Nick has covered the San Francisco 49ers since 2016, having previously covered the St. Louis Rams for 12 years, including three years (2013 to 2015) at ESPN. In over a decade with the company, Nick has led ESPN’s coverage of the Niners’ 2019 and 2023 Super Bowl run, Colin Kaepernick’s protest, the Rams making Michael Sam the first openly gay player drafted to the NFL, Sam’s subsequent pursuit of a roster spot and the team’s relocation and stadium saga.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy practiced Wednesday, the first significant step in the direction of a potential return from the toe injury he aggravated in Week 4.

Purdy, who will be limited in practice this week according to coach Kyle Shanahan, initially injured the toe in a Week 1 win against the Seattle Seahawks. He missed two games and returned against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 28 but aggravated the injury in that game and has not played or practiced since.

The absence of Purdy paired with injuries to backup Mac Jones (knee/oblique) has left the Niners practicing without their top two quarterbacks for chunks of the season. Jones was also limited Wednesday, though Shanahan indicated Jones would do more than Purdy.

Editor’s Picks

2 Related

“Brock is more limited than Mac,” Shanahan said. “Injuries frustrate people, but Brock is handling it right like he does everything. I know he’s itching to get back.”

Before that Week 4 contest, the opposite was true as Jones was more limited during the week than Purdy with Purdy eventually starting.

Purdy and Jones will continue to be monitored as the week goes on with the Niners having a bit of extra rest because they play the