Brock Purdy has hardly left much room for improvement after what he did to Miami, and now the 49ers get to see if that kind of sharp, efficient football carries over when Arizona comes to Santa Clara on Sunday.
Last week, Purdy was almost flawless in San Francisco’s 35-13 win, finishing 20 of 22 for 287 yards, two passing touchdowns and a rushing score. The performance earned him NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors, and it also put him in a lane no player has ever occupied: he became the first in league history to complete at least 90% of his passes while throwing for at least 285 yards and two touchdowns and adding a rushing touchdown. His 149.1 passer rating came just short of perfection.
Kyle Shanahan made it clear that none of this feels out of character for his quarterback.
"Brock's played at an extremely high level," 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. "People forget the first seven games he played (in 2022), he played as good as any quarterback I've had. And then he took us to the Super Bowl the next year.
"He was in the top five of the MVP voting that year. So he's just been extremely consistent through his time here."
Purdy hasn’t been carrying the offense alone, either. Christian McCaffrey reached his 100th career touchdown against Miami, while veteran wide receiver Mike Evans has slid into a new system smoothly after 12 years in Tampa Bay.
Up front, San Francisco’s offensive line has been clean and sturdy, giving up no sacks in two games. And the 49ers have also added Brandin Cooks to help at receiver as injuries pile up, including one affecting Evans, who is dealing with a hip problem.
Shanahan did not offer a timeline for when Cooks will be ready.
"As soon as he's ready," he said of Cooks. "We usually get five guys up for game days, so as soon as he's one of those five."
San Francisco is 2-0, but Arizona arrives at 1-1 after getting smacked around in a 31-7 home loss to Seattle. That came one week after the Cardinals opened with an upset of the Los Angeles Chargers, but the offense fell flat against the defending Super Bowl champions. Arizona was outgained 381-151 and managed only four catches from its wide receivers.
Marvin Harrison Jr. was shut out of the passing game in that loss. He had just one catch in the win over Los Angeles, and after posting 62 receptions as a rookie two years ago, he finished with 41 in an injury-shortened 2025 season.
Harrison said he understands the attention around his production and is focused on getting back to the level he showed as a rookie.
"People want certain production and when that is not happening, everyone is going to ask questions or try to figure out why," he said. "I understand who I am and what I was expected to do when I got drafted here and all the expectations put on me."
Jacoby Brissett, who completed 17 of 28 passes for just 95 yards last week, said he feels some of that frustration too.
"I told him, ‘The frustration you have, I have the same way,'" Brissett said. "I said, ‘I don't want you to go out in the game with zero catches.
That's not it. That's not fair to you.'"
Both teams were dealing with absences on Wednesday. For Arizona, five players were out, including cornerback Max Melton (toe) and guard Roy Lopez (groin). San Francisco had several players sitting as well, including Evans and McCaffrey (rest), defensive linemen James Thompson (ankle), Romello Height (hand) and Nick Bosa (rest/knee), linebacker Dre Greenlaw (rest/Achilles), left tackle Trent Williams (rest) and wide receiver Demarcus Robinson (ankle).
In Other News...
Cardinals Injury Report Raises New Concern Ahead Of 49ers Game
The Cardinals first injury report of the week brought a significant change on the back end, with cornerback Will Johnson moved to injured reserve because of a neck injury. That puts him out for the rest of the season and forces Arizona to keep adjusting its depth as it prepares for a divisional matchup with the 49ers, while Starling Thomas V was promoted from the practice squad to help fill the void.
The rest of the report added more unease, with several players either not participating or working in a limited capacity because of injuries or rest. For a team already trying to hold up against a San Francisco roster that tends to test every weak spot, the health picture now becomes part of the game plan, and the Cardinals will be watching closely to see who can get through the week and who might not be ready when Sunday arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Nick Bosa Suddenly Looms Over Cardinals In A Different Way
Nick Bosas week took an unexpected turn when the 49ers edge rusher sat out a second straight practice because of a calf issue, adding another layer to the ongoing management of his surgically repaired right knee. The uncertainty comes with San Francisco preparing for its next game against the Cardinals, and Bosas status has quickly become one of the biggest watch points on the injury report.
For Arizona, the situation matters even before a final update is released. Bosa has played in two games this season without recording a sack, but his presence still changes how offenses have to prepare for San Francisco, and the 49ers defense is clearly feeling the weight of his availability. Until the team provides more clarity, the Cardinals have reason to keep an eye on a matchup that could look very different depending on how Bosa responds over the next few days. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Just Created A Real QB Watch Behind Jacoby Brissett
Practice on Wednesday offered a notable twist for the Cardinals, as rookie quarterback Carson Beck was seen working with the first-team offense and throwing to Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride. The added reps come at a time when the quarterback room is under more scrutiny than usual, with Jacoby Brissett coming off an underwhelming performance in the previous game.
No official change has been announced, but the Cardinals approach suggests Beck is being prepared as a real option if the need arises. For a team trying to steady its offense, getting a rookie more integrated with the starters now is the kind of move that can signal caution without saying anything outright. [Read more 🡒]