Will Garoppolo be back for the NFC Conference vs the Eagles? Should Purdy play anyway?

After breaking his foot against the Miami Dolphins in December, Garoppolo was declared initially out for the year. In the days that followed, Shanahan raised the possibility that he may be able to return for the postseason. However, due to Trey Lance’s season-ending broken ankle, the squad had to turn to Purdy, the third-string quarterback, and he hasn’t disappointed them.

It would be “extremely surprising” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan if quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo played this week, he said on Monday. Two days before, Shanahan had told ESPN that the injured quarterback had an “outside chance” of being ready for the conference championship and “there’d be a better chance” that he’d be fit for the Super Bowl if San Francisco made it to the big game.

Purdy the star that came in late

Although the Niners selected Purdy as their final choice in the 2022 NFL Draft, “Mr. Irrelevant” quickly became a crucial figure in the team’s success and, ultimately, the team’s second-place finish. He made his debut against the Buccaneers by beating Tom Brady in his first career game as a quarterback.

Purdy’s has gone undefeated in the eight games since, including playoff victories of 41-23 over the Seattle Seahawks and 19-12 against the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round. Purdy finished the regular season with a 107.3 passer rating thanks to a 67.1 completion %, 1,374 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and four interceptions.

Fox Sports reported before the 49ers’ wild card playoff victory against the Seattle Seahawks on January 14 that the organization was planning to continue with seventh-round rookie Brock Purdy as the starting quarterback independent of it when Garoppolo returns to the field (if at all).

On Sunday’s NFC Championship Game, the San Francisco 49ers will face the Philadelphia Eagles at 3 p.m. ET.