San Francisco and Arizona are in separate stages of quarterback drama as they prepare to conclude their season series Sunday in Phoenix.
The 49ers (6-4) likely will have a choice between Brock Purdy and fill-in Mac Jones as they go for a series sweep and push for their fourth playoff appearance in five seasons.
Purdy returned to practice Wednesday with the goal of returning this week after missing eight games with turf toe, and coach Kyle Shanahan said he wants to see Purdy go through three “aggressive” practices before declaring him game ready.
“He looks like Brock,” running back Christian McCaffrey said after watching Purdy in practice last week. “He’s throwing well. He’s running well. He looks good.”
Jones has been more than adequate, throwing for 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns with six interceptions. That being said, the 49ers are 23rd in the league in scoring (22 points per game) after finishing no lower than 13th since 2021.
The Cardinals (3-6) made their choice last week, tabbing veteran journeyman Jacoby Brissett to remain as starter after he replaced Kyler Murray (ankle) during an injury absence. Brissett has completed 95 of 155 passes for eight touchdowns and one interception in his previous four starts.
Both teams enter after humbling defeats.
The 49ers fell to eighth in the NFC playoff standings with a 42-26 home loss to the Los Angeles Rams, when their injury-wracked defense — minus injured key pieces Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Yetur Gross-Matos and Mykel Williams — gave up 401 yards and four Matthew Stafford touchdown passes.
Jones tried. He completed 33 of 39 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns with an interception, and his 84.6 completion percentage was tied for the second best in his 60 career starts.
“I’m never going to put it on one side of the ball, but obviously we are wounded,” Shanahan said. “The ‘D’ got more guys down over there. That does give the other side a little bit more of an advantage.”
The Cardinals gave up two defensive touchdowns in the first 16 minutes and trailed 35-0 midway through the second quarter of a 44-22 loss in Seattle.
Brissett, 22 of 44 for 258 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks, will be without No. 1 wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. this week. Harrison, who has 34 receptions for 525 yards and four touchdowns, underwent emergency surgery for appendicitis Monday.
“There’s no sugarcoating anything,” Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon said. “The truth is the truth. The facts are the facts. You address it, you point it out, you learn from it, and you move on. And that’s what we’ll do,”
McCaffrey has 626 yards rushing and leads NFL running backs in receptions (69) and receiving yards (692). He is averaging 3.5 yards per carry, but he will be going against a defense that has permitted 114.1 yards per game and 4.3 per carry.
“Our offense has to play at an incredibly high level, score a lot of points, and not turn the ball over,” Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle said. “That’s going to be the case moving forward.”
San Francisco wideout Ricky Pearsall (knee), linebacker Dee Winters (knee) and defensive tackle Alfred Collins (hip) were limited in practice Wednesday along with Purdy.
Cardinals starting cornerbacks Max Melton (concussion) and Will Johnson (back/hip) missed the Seattle game, and their game status is “unspecified.” Johnson did not practice on Wednesday while Melton was limited along with defensive linemen Walter Nolen (knee) and Darius Robinson (groin), linebacker BJ Ojulari (knee), guards Evan Brown (foot) and Will Hernandez (knee) and running back Bam Knight (ankle). Receiver Zay Jones (Achilles) was placed on injured reserve.
