San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been sacked six times over the past two games, and his protection won’t be improving anytime soon. Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed on Monday that left tackle Trent Williams, who has missed the last five games with an ankle injury, will not return this season.
Adding to the woes, Williams’ replacement, Jaylon Moore, and left guard Aaron Banks are also sidelined for the final two games. Banks suffered an MCL injury, while Moore sustained a quad strain during Sunday’s loss to the Miami Dolphins. To make matters worse, offensive lineman Spencer Burford is dealing with calf soreness.
With the 49ers eliminated from playoff contention, some might question the decision to keep Purdy under center behind an injury-depleted offensive line. Given that the team hopes to extend his contract this offseason, why not turn to backups like Brandon Allen or Josh Dobbs to ensure Purdy remains healthy?
When asked whether the current state of the offensive line gave him pause about playing his franchise quarterback, Shanahan acknowledged the concerns but emphasized the team’s commitment to competing.
“I mean, all that stuff does [give me pause], but people deal with that throughout the year on other weeks too,” Shanahan admitted. “We’ve got a football team.”
Despite their postseason hopes being extinguished, Shanahan and his staff remain focused on finishing the season strong by fielding their best possible lineup.
“We’ve got to go out, and we’ve got two games here, and we’ve got to see what guys we can put out there, and whatever we do, we’re going to put a game plan together to, as best as we can, to give us a chance to win,” Shanahan explained. “But no, I’m not thinking that way (about sitting Purdy).”
Shanahan also addressed the challenge of motivating a locker room that knows the season will end after Week 18, emphasizing that at the professional level, players are expected to stay fully committed and give their best effort every week.
“Motivation is telling people the situation they’re in, and hoping they understand the reality,” Shanahan said. “This is professional sports. You get paid to do this. It’s our job. You get 17 checks, which is for 17 games. Whether you’re in the playoffs, out of the playoffs, people who don’t understand that don’t last long in this league. And if you need me to tell you that, I will.
“But I think guys do understand that. I think our team understands that. You have a standard to play for. You don’t just sit there and play until you’re in something and then shut it down. You play one way. We’ve got two games here left. That’s all that we’ve got, and our goal is to find a way to play better.
“Our goal is to find a way to get a win, and that’s what I expect out of anyone involved in this. And if they don’t see it that way, and you’ve got to convince them too much more than that, then they’re probably not the type of guys that you want around here anyways.”
The final two games provide the 49ers with a chance to overcome adversity and build momentum as they head into the offseason.