Steve Young Offers Suggestion for Brock Purdy to Propel 49ers Through Injury Issues

The San Francisco 49ers have hit a few obstacles early in their 2024 NFL season.

Star running back Christian McCaffrey, a two-time All-Pro, was placed on injured reserve last weekend, sidelining him until at least Week 6. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is now expected to miss several games due to a calf strain, and Brandon Aiyuk—who held out of training camp and preseason—hasn’t quite lived up to his newly signed contract in the first two games.

To compound these issues, the 49ers dropped their Week 2 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, falling 23–17 at U.S. Bank Stadium and starting the season 1–1.

With the offense struggling through injuries and slow starts, former Super Bowl-winning quarterback Steve Young has advice for current QB Brock Purdy: start running the ball.

Young suggested on the What the Football podcast that Purdy could be more effective by incorporating his legs into the game plan: “If Kyle [Shanahan] wanted to make Brock more dynamic—like running sweeps, quarterback draws, or utilizing RPOs—it would help given the current injuries.” He continued, “If they’re sticking to the current approach, the pressure on Brock increases. He’ll need to be more efficient, move more, take more risks, and step outside his comfort zone, which could pay off later in the season when they face elite quarterbacks like Patrick Mahomes or Lamar Jackson.”

Purdy has had a solid start to the season, leading the league with 550 passing yards, one touchdown, and one interception, with a passer rating of 96.3 through two games. He has rushed just three times for 23 yards, converting two first downs.

Young believes Purdy’s mobility could help fill the void while McCaffrey and Samuel recover, ultimately benefiting the 49ers long-term. “The 49ers tend to struggle against top-tier quarterbacks like Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, and Patrick Mahomes,” Young added. “Developing Purdy into a more dynamic player, especially under pressure and with these injuries, might actually be a good thing for the team.”