As the 2024 NFL season winds down, the San Francisco 49ers find themselves in a unique position—one where they don’t have much to play for. With playoff hopes already dashed, the team can now focus on player development and ensuring the health of key personnel as they prepare for the future. This shift in priorities has led to the decision to rest certain players, and it appears that quarterback Brock Purdy is among those who will be sidelined for the final week of the season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed this decision, as reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter on X (formerly Twitter): “49ers HC Kyle Shanahan said Josh Dobbs will start Sunday at Arizona.”

Purdy, who had been a bright spot for the 49ers this season, suffered a right elbow contusion with accompanying nerve inflammation in the Week 17 matchup against the Detroit Lions. While the injury could have been far worse, with the potential for a torn UCL, the 49ers’ medical staff confirmed that the injury wasn’t as severe as the one he sustained in last year’s NFC Championship game. However, given the circumstances and the fact that the team has no playoff berth to fight for, it was deemed best for Purdy to rest and recover, allowing backup Josh Dobbs to start in Week 18.

Despite this setback, Purdy’s performance over the season has been impressive. He finished the year with a solid 3,864 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions. With his rookie contract entering its final year, Purdy is expected to receive a significant contract extension during the offseason, which reflects his potential and the faith the 49ers have in his future with the team.

For the 49ers, the 2024 season has been a frustrating one, marred by injuries and missed opportunities. After a heartbreaking Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs the previous year, there were high hopes for the team’s return to the big game. However, the road to the playoffs proved to be an uphill battle, with injuries playing a significant role in derailing their season.

From the very start of the year, injuries began to take their toll on key players. Star running back Christian McCaffrey struggled with Achilles tendonitis, forcing him to miss half of the season. McCaffrey did make a return to the field for a few games, but just as the team began to find its rhythm, he suffered a season-ending injury in a matchup against the Buffalo Bills. While the 49ers were able to maintain some level of success in the running game despite McCaffrey’s absence, losing such an integral part of their offense was undoubtedly a blow.

On top of McCaffrey’s injury woes, the 49ers were also missing the services of two of their most important receiving weapons, Deebo Samuel Sr. and George Kittle, both of whom dealt with injuries throughout the season. These issues further complicated the team’s offensive strategy, especially with Purdy himself also sidelined for a period due to injury.

With all these setbacks, it quickly became clear that the 49ers’ path to the playoffs would be a challenging one. The team’s depth was tested, and while there were moments of brilliance, the overall consistency required to secure a postseason spot simply wasn’t there.

Looking ahead, the hope for the 49ers is that they can enter the 2025 season healthy and ready to return to their previous form. The team has demonstrated over the last few seasons that they have the talent to compete with the league’s best, but injuries have once again proven to be a major factor beyond their control. If they can bring back a fully healthy roster, there is little doubt that the 49ers can make another deep playoff run.

The lessons learned from this season—namely, the importance of maintaining player health and depth—will be key as they move forward. The team’s front office and coaching staff will likely focus on bolstering the roster and ensuring that the injury bug doesn’t bite as hard in the future.

As for this season, while it may have been disappointing, the 49ers are already turning their attention to what they can build for next year. With players like Purdy, McCaffrey, Samuel, and Kittle at the core of their offense, the future is promising—provided they can stay healthy. The 49ers are still a force to be reckoned with, and if they can keep their key players on the field, they’ll undoubtedly be back in the playoff picture in 2025. The next chapter begins soon, and San Francisco fans are eager to see what this resilient team can achieve in the future.