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The San Francisco 49ers reinstated Brock Purdy as their starting quarterback in Week 11 following his recovery from a toe injury. Despite a Week 12 win against the Carolina Panthers, there is growing concern regarding that decision.
Though the 49ers remain firmly in the NFL playoff race, analyst Chris Canty recently said the NFC team is benefiting from a “soft schedule.”
“I don’t see the San Francisco 49ers as a Super Bowl contender. They’re more of a product of a soft schedule than they are a dominant team. … I don’t know how much stock I’m putting in an 8-4 record for the San Francisco 49ers,” Canty said.
The 49ers are more of a product of a soft schedule than they are a dominant team. @ChrisCanty99 isn't putting much stock into the San Francisco 49ers' 8-4 record. pic.twitter.com/DBb8Mln92E
— UNSPORTSMANLIKE Radio (@UnSportsESPN) November 25, 2025
Through 12 weeks, the 49ers have defeated the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams, but also have two wins against the Arizona Cardinals and one each against the New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, and Panthers.
Purdy’s inconsistency on deep throws compounds the concerns. Against Carolina, he threw three interceptions on passes of 15 or more air yards.
This season, the quarterback has produced just one touchdown and six interceptions on throws of that distance, a dramatic reversal from his previous three seasons when he recorded 20 touchdowns against 11 interceptions, according to Canty.
The statistical decline illustrates how significantly Purdy’s performance has shifted in a critical area. Such a regression presents a challenge for the 49ers, who have been without some of their top receivers this season because of injury.
The franchise invested substantially in Purdy with a lucrative contract extension, expecting stability, not the type of volatility now surfacing at crucial moments.
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