Brock Purdy Leads 49ers to Strong Victory After Injury Return

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy made a perfect return to the field on Sunday after missing six straight games because of a toe injury. His comeback could not have gone any better, as he helped the 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals 41-22 in a confident and powerful win. Purdy looked calm and sharp, finishing the game with 19 completions from 26 passes, 200 passing yards, and three touchdowns. His performance helped the 49ers move to a 7-4 record this season, putting them in a strong position as the NFL year continues.

The 49ers took the lead almost immediately — even before Purdy threw a single pass. On the very first play from scrimmage, running back Christian McCaffrey ran in a 1-yard touchdown after Skyy Moore returned the opening kickoff 98 yards. This quick score gave the 49ers early energy and put pressure on the Cardinals right from the start. Shortly after, the 49ers forced a quick Arizona punt, giving Purdy his first chance to take control of the game.

On the next drive, Purdy showed no signs of rust. He found receivers Jauan Jennings and Demarcus Robinson with deep passes to move into scoring range. Moments later, he delivered a clean 30-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle, who was wide open on the right sideline. Even though the extra point attempt was blocked, the 49ers already had a two-score lead within the first few minutes of the game.

Early in the second quarter, Purdy continued to dominate. He completed a short 9-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey, giving the star running back his second touchdown of the day. Although the 49ers did not score another touchdown before halftime, they added two field goals and went into the break with a comfortable 25-10 lead. Their offense stayed smooth and efficient, while the defense kept Arizona from making a serious comeback.

Later in the third quarter, Purdy connected with George Kittle once again, this time on a short pass near the corner of the end zone. This touchdown was extra special, as it marked the 50th touchdown of Kittle’s NFL career. The crowd celebrated loudly, and the 49ers continued to build a strong lead that the Cardinals struggled to overcome.

In the fourth quarter, Arizona managed to score two touchdowns. However, the result was already clear by that point. The 49ers answered quickly, as McCaffrey broke free for a 20-yard run and later scored another touchdown. That score sealed the game and completed McCaffrey’s third touchdown of the day.

Cardinals quarterback Jacoby Brissett actually had an impressive statistical day, completing 47 of 57 passes for 452 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. His 47 completions set a new NFL record. Despite his huge numbers, the Cardinals still fell to 3-7. Bam Knight, Michael Wilson, and Trey McBride also delivered strong performances, but it was not enough to match San Francisco’s balance and power.

Purdy has been dealing with his toe injury since the first game of the season. He aggravated it again during a Week 4 loss to Jacksonville and missed eight games since then. Backup Mac Jones kept the team steady, but head coach Kyle Shanahan said it was an easy choice to return Purdy to the starting position as soon as he was healthy.

With upcoming games against the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, and Tennessee Titans — plus a bye week — the 49ers are entering a manageable stretch of the schedule. If Purdy continues to play like he did on Sunday, San Francisco will have a strong chance to finish the regular season in a very competitive position despite the tough NFC West race.