San Francisco 49ers Prepare for Final Regular Season Game Against the Arizona Cardinals

The San Francisco 49ers are gearing up for their final regular season game as they head to Arizona this Sunday to face the Cardinals. With the end of the season in sight, the team has been dealing with numerous injuries, including a significant one to their starting quarterback, Brock Purdy, who suffered a right elbow injury during the Monday night game against the Detroit Lions. As a result, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced on Wednesday that Joshua Dobbs will start as quarterback in Week 18 against the Cardinals in place of Purdy.

A Positive Outlook on Joshua Dobbs and Brandon Allen

Despite the injury setbacks, Coach Shanahan expressed his satisfaction with both Joshua Dobbs and backup quarterback Brandon Allen’s performances in recent practices. “He has been great, both he and Brandon (Allen). It’s been good having both of them here. I’ve kind of viewed them as our second quarterback throughout the year, more or less what I said in the preseason. But both have done a good job on the scout team, splitting all the reps there. They are always ready. Both prepare as if they were the starter each week, so they’ve both been great,” Shanahan commented.

A Look at the Four Quarterbacks on the Roster

In addition to Purdy, Dobbs, and Allen, the 49ers also have Tanner Mordecai on their practice squad as the fourth quarterback. Shanahan explained the importance of having four quarterbacks on the roster and the challenges that come with ensuring that each quarterback gets valuable practice time. “Simply because we didn’t want to lose Tanner. It’s always tough having four, just because of the repetitions. It’s kind of like the situation with Mullens in his first year. I think he was the fourth quarterback and got scout team safety reps until basically his first game as the starter. So, that happens. You have to find a way to work around it, but Mordecai has also taken advantage of his time here,” Shanahan explained.

A Lengthy Injury Report for the 49ers

Before announcing Dobbs as the starting quarterback for this week, Shanahan also provided an extensive list of players who would not be practicing on Wednesday due to injuries. The list includes several key players, some of whom are integral to the team’s offensive and defensive lines. The injuries include:

• Offensive lineman Spencer Burford (calf)
• Linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (calf)
• Quarterback Brock Purdy (elbow)
• Defensive lineman Robert Beal Jr. (ankle)
• Defensive lineman Leonard Floyd (shoulder)
• Offensive lineman Colton McKivitz (knee)
• Defensive lineman Nick Bosa (knee)
• Wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr. (rib/wrist)
• Tight end George Kittle (ankle/hamstring)
• Cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (shoulder)
• Cornerback Isaac Yiadom (pelvis)
• Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (illness/chest) – limited
• Safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle) – limited

Shanahan emphasized that while the list is long, many of these injuries are not as serious as they may initially seem.

Understanding the Challenges of a Short Week

With the 49ers playing on Monday and now preparing for a short turnaround, Shanahan explained that the injury report reflects the normal challenges of a week with fewer recovery days. “It’s only been one day (since the game against Detroit), so that’s why I think there are more (players on the injury report) than normal. But yes, with it being a short week and in the situation we’re in being the last game of the season, we’re not going to ask the guys to play through any injuries or things like that. None of these injuries are that serious; some are more serious than others. Hopefully, these guys will feel better as the week progresses and will be able to practice tomorrow,” Shanahan concluded.

What’s Next for the 49ers

With the 49ers facing their final game of the regular season, they will need to push through the challenges presented by injuries and the short week. The team’s focus will be on preparing for the Cardinals while ensuring that their injured players are well-rested and ready for potential postseason play. As always, the 49ers’ success will depend on the contributions of their depth players, including those who will be stepping up to take on starting roles like Joshua Dobbs.