Brock Purdy threw double-digit interceptions in each of his last three seasons, including a career-high 3.5 interception rate last year, despite playing only nine games. That’s a wild stat as the 49ers head into their 2026 season with more questions than answers under center.
When Will Purdy Actually Stay on the Field?
Alright, let’s talk about the real elephant in the room for our foes down south: Brock Purdy’s health. The dude isn’t exactly “injury-prone” but he sure gets “dinged up” a lot. You’d think a 26-year-old would be bouncing back quicker, but his rap sheet is already pretty long. Back in 2022, an oblique injury had him playing hurt against our Seahawks at Lumen Field in a game they barely squeaked out. A few weeks later, he blew out his elbow, knocking the 49ers out of the NFC Championship Game. Sure, he recovered in the offseason and didn’t miss games in 2023, except for a concussion before a Week 8 loss to the Bengals that capped a three-game losing streak. Then 2024 saw a right shoulder injury take him out, making him miss a brutal loss to the Packers. Up until the 2025 season, he’d only missed three games due to injury, but then came the turf toe. That sucker sidelined him for half of the 2025 season! Mac Jones had to step in and keep their hopes alive until Purdy returned in Week 11. He finished that season, almost leading them to an NFC West crown, but seriously, can he actually stay healthy for a whole year? These dings are adding up.
That “Next Step” Looks Like a Cliff
So, even if Purdy somehow manages to avoid the trainer’s room, what’s this “next step” everyone keeps talking about? Is it just getting out of that “middle tier” of quarterback rankings? If so, he needs to lock down the turnovers. We just talked about that 3.5 interception rate from last year, right? Ten picks in nine games is not a path to the top 10. That’s the first time he’s been over three percent in his career, and since his 2022 debut, he’s rocking the second-highest interception rate in the league. That’s a huge problem. You can’t be a top QB constantly giving the ball away, especially when you’re barely playing a full season. Keeping the interceptions to a minimum is literally the first thing he has to fix.
The 49ers are heading towards preseason games in August with Purdy’s health and decision-making squarely in the spotlight. Can he finally put together a full, clean season without hitting the injury report? Can he actually avoid those costly turnovers? For the sake of the entire NFC West, we’ll be watching how those questions get answered.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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