Brock Purdy’s preseason debut for the 49ers was, well, rough. We’re talking 4-of-6 for a measly 29 yards, a 4.8 yards per attempt average, and a 77.8 passer rating against the Chargers in Week 2. If you were looking for signs of a dynamic passing attack, you definitely didn’t find them there, even if San Francisco somehow pulled out a 41-17 win thanks to everything but the passing game.
Purdy’s Passing Game Is Struggling, But Help Is On The Way
Yeah, Purdy’s short stint was underwhelming. And when he bounced, top backup Mac Jones was only “a little better,” while Adrian Martinez was, and I quote, “a lot worse.” Yikes. The only real bright spot among the receivers was rookie second-round pick De’Zhaun Stribling. Fading Deebo Samuel, who rejoined the squad on August 1st, snagged one catch for a tiny 4 yards. Not exactly inspiring confidence in the 49ers’ passing game right now, especially with 21 teams across the league rocking new offensive philosophies and concerns bubbling about several passing games.
But here’s the thing that’s gotta make 49ers fans breathe a tiny sigh of relief behind the scenes: George Kittle, Purdy’s clear go-to guy downfield, is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a torn Achilles. Seriously! The dude has a shot to play in Week 1. And new top wideout Mike Evans, who hasn’t even debuted yet because of foot and quad injuries, was back practicing the day after the game. He’s a lock for Week 1. So while Ricky Pearsall going down was a blow, and Christian Kirk is also set to miss time, the 49ers’ injury luck is actually reversing. That’s huge for making Purdy’s downfield passing more explosive and efficient. He’s gonna need those streamlined weapons.
Are The Chiefs Desperate Enough For a Tyreek Hill Reunion?
Over in Kansas City, the talk is all about Tyreek Hill. The big question: do the Chiefs need to reunite him with Patrick Mahomes? Hill is still recovering from left knee injuries, and the word is he won’t get signed until he’s almost fully healthy. We’re talking Week 1 or even later before the 32-year-old former Dolphins star might land with a new team.
Still, there’s a strong vibe that KC should bring him back as another big-play threat for Mahomes, who’s also coming back from a major knee injury himself. Xavier Worthy hasn’t exactly been inspiring confidence as the deep threat, and that’s sparking all this “bring back Hill” chatter. But let’s be real, the Chiefs aren’t exactly hurting for options behind Rashee Rice. Tyquan Thornton is back to help Mahomes, and rookie fifth-rounder Cyrus Allen is apparently lighting up camp. And don’t forget second-year fourth-rounder Jalen Royals, who flashed against the Buccaneers with Mahomes resting. There’s a new emphasis on reestablishing something there, which means they’re trying to make it work without Hill.
With Week 3 preseason finales coming up and most critical players resting, we’ll have to wait until Week 1 of the regular season to see if Purdy can actually click with his returning weapons and if the Chiefs can find their deep threat without bringing back a familiar face. The clock is ticking for these teams to iron out those early season kinks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
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