On Monday night, the San Francisco 49ers left the field at Levi’s Stadium with a tough loss to the Detroit Lions, but the real concern for the team was the potentially serious injury to their quarterback, Brock Purdy. The defeat, which ended with a nail-biting score of 40-34, took a backseat to the news that Purdy’s right elbow, which had already been through a challenging recovery process, was once again in trouble.

Purdy left the game late in the fourth quarter after taking a hard sack. His injury, which coach Kyle Shanahan described as “nerve stuff” in the elbow, raises major concerns for the quarterback’s immediate and long-term future. Shanahan, who addressed the media after the game, was notably cautious when discussing Purdy’s condition, neither confirming nor denying whether Purdy would be available for Week 18. He mentioned that the quarterback would undergo further imaging on Tuesday to better assess the damage.

What makes this injury even more worrisome is that it’s to the same elbow that underwent surgery after Purdy tore his UCL during the 2023 NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. That injury derailed what was a promising postseason run for Purdy, and now, it seems that the lingering issues with his elbow might be coming back to haunt him.

Following the game, Purdy shared that his elbow “didn’t feel the best” and that his arm was “on fire,” suggesting a significant amount of pain. However, initial tests for a torn UCL came back negative, offering some hope that the damage might not be as severe as first feared. Despite this, Purdy admitted that when he tried throwing on the sideline, his arm just wouldn’t cooperate. “I couldn’t throw,” Purdy explained. “It has nothing to do with tapping out of the game… I love my teammates; I’ll go to the end for them and this fan base… That’s what hurts me, is that I couldn’t finish the game.”

While the 49ers’ offensive line had already been depleted throughout the game, making the challenge even greater for Purdy, he still played admirably. The quarterback completed 27 of his 35 passes for an impressive 377 yards, adding three touchdown passes to the scoreboard. However, he also threw two interceptions, showing that even with his impressive performance, the injury might have affected his overall efficiency.

Shanahan had already stated earlier in the week that he had no plans to bench Purdy for the last two games of the season, even though the 49ers were no longer in the playoff race. The 49ers had already been dealing with numerous injuries across the offensive line, making it a season full of adversity for both the team and Purdy.

Now, however, this latest injury could have a much more profound impact on both Purdy and the 49ers’ future. If the nerve issue in his elbow proves to be more serious than initially thought, it could bring Purdy’s 2024 season to an abrupt and premature end. What makes this all the more frustrating is that Purdy was heading into an offseason where he was expected to be in line for a massive contract extension. His breakout year as a rookie had captured the attention of fans and analysts alike, but this new injury could complicate matters as the 49ers will now have to carefully consider their options moving forward.

For Purdy, the possibility of another setback to his throwing arm couldn’t come at a worse time. Having worked hard to recover from the UCL injury that ended his 2023 season, he was hoping to solidify his role as the 49ers’ franchise quarterback in 2024. This new injury, especially with uncertainty surrounding his ability to return for the final game of the regular season, leaves both Purdy and the team in an incredibly difficult position.

The future of the 49ers’ offense now rests in limbo as the team must wait to see how Purdy’s injury unfolds. Should he be forced to sit out for an extended period or miss the rest of the season, the 49ers will face tough decisions as they look to secure their long-term quarterback situation. What had been a year full of promise now hangs in the balance as Purdy’s status for both the end of the 2024 season and his upcoming contract negotiations remain unclear. As the 49ers’ quarterback waits for the next round of tests, both the team and its fan base hold their breath, hoping that this will not be the end of what could have been a breakthrough season.