Purdy explains why he missed wide-open Aiyuk on busted Rams coverage

In the fourth quarter of the 49ers’ 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, quarterback Brock Purdy missed a critical opportunity to connect with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk on what could have been a game-sealing touchdown. With just over four minutes remaining and the 49ers holding a 24-17 lead, Purdy scrambled in the pocket before finding receiver Juan Jennings for a short 5-yard gain. However, Aiyuk had broken free downfield after the Rams’ coverage fell apart, leaving him wide open for a potential deep score.

When asked about the missed chance during Thursday’s media availability, Purdy provided some insight into what went wrong on the play. He explained that while he was progressing through his reads, Aiyuk deviated from the expected route, exploiting open space in the Rams’ secondary. Purdy, however, was focused on the safety’s positioning and hesitant to pull the trigger.

“I’m going through my read,” Purdy said. “Obviously, there was a route that I thought he was going to run, but he felt grass and went and took it. And when we’re watching it after, it’s like, yes, that’s the right thing to do in that moment.”

Purdy acknowledged that better communication between him and Aiyuk is needed in the future for similar situations. “That’s something that we both have to be on the same page moving forward with,” Purdy added.

While Purdy delivered a solid performance overall, completing 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns, this missed deep throw — along with a few other miscues and dropped passes — proved costly as the Rams capitalized to come from behind and win the game.

As the 49ers continue to navigate injuries to key offensive players, the chemistry between Purdy and his receivers, especially in moments like this, will be crucial. With upcoming games against top-tier competition, San Francisco can’t afford missed opportunities to put points on the board.

Looking ahead, with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel potentially back in the lineup when the 49ers face the New England Patriots this Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, Purdy will get another chance to improve his communication and decision-making in critical game situations.