He is the second proficient playmaker San Francisco has misplaced to harm early this season. Operating again Christian McCaffrey (calf pressure/Achilles tendonitis) was positioned on the short-term injured reserve checklist on Saturday.
Samuel leads the Niners in targets (19), receptions (13) and receiving yards (164) via two video games. On Sunday, he had eight receptions for 110 yards.
Because the 49ers confirmed of their 23-17 Week 2 loss on the Vikings, changing one All-Professional expertise is tough sufficient. Shedding two might flip San Francisco’s season the other way up.
The following few weeks will both change Purdy’s narrative or affirm suspicions that the expertise round him is the primary cause for his success.
He struggled in his first skilled highway begin with out McCaffrey, ending Sunday’s sport in opposition to Minnesota 28-of-36 for 319 yards, one landing and one interception.
Per data from Pro Football Focus, he had three turnover-worthy performs and was sacked six instances on 16 defensive pressures.
Minnesota supplied a blueprint for different defenses to observe by incessantly blitzing Purdy. PFF data shows the Niners quarterback had a 64.3 passer ranking when blitzed and averaged 6.7 yards per try — versus a 129.2 passer ranking and 10.8 yards per try when not blitzed.
San Francisco nonetheless has a pair of excellent weapons, tight George Kittle and extensive receiver Brandon Aiyuk, however a lot of what made the Niners arduous to defend was their multitude of elite choices.
Defenses can deal with Kittle and Aiyuk and power Purdy to beat them whereas concentrating on wideouts Jauan Jennings and Chris Conley.
Fortuitously for the Niners, they play the one staff with extra harm misfortune to start the season, the Rams, in Week 3.
Los Angeles’ offensive line is riddled with accidents, and the staff can be with out its high two extensive receivers, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp.
That is about the one solace for San Francisco, which out of the blue seems rather more susceptible that it did coming into the season.