Will Brock Purdy be benched? 49ers QB's struggles come to light in 'Monday Night Football' clash vs. Panthers originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
If there wasn't a quarterback controversy in San Francisco before the 49ers' "Monday Night Football" matchup with the Panthers in Week 12, there certainly is one now.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor the better part of four seasons, Brock Purdy has been the unquestioned No. 1 option under center in Kyle Shanahan's setup. He garnered MVP consideration in 2023, leading San Francisco to the Super Bowl.
And yet, in 2025, Purdy looks anything but the efficient talent he was in his early years in the league. Though San Francisco got the 20-9 win, the 25-year-old endured an abysmal first half against Carolina, giving the ball away with impunity.
As boos rained from the Levi's Stadium stands, some wondered whether Purdy's time in the spotlight was coming to a close -- at least on a temporary level.
Here's what you need to know about Purdy's struggles -- including whether they will cost him his job.
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Will Brock Purdy be benched?
Purdy's struggles with deep passing came under a microscope on Monday night. On three separate occasions, Purdy attempted to air the ball out. All three landed in Panthers defenders' hands.
Renowned for his accuracy, Purdy's toils with the long ball aren't exactly new. He has seven interceptions on the year. Six have come on throws longer than 15 yards.
The Niners continue to tread water in one of the league's toughest divisions, putting themselves in position to qualify for the postseason despite a litany of injuries on both sides of the ball. It's not inconceivable to believe they could get better production under center. In four starts this season, Purdy has tossed multiple interceptions in three games. They entered Monday night's contest sporting a 2-1 record in Purdy's starts, a reflection of the team's depth and versatility on both ends of the field.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementAfter the game, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that he never considered putting backup quarterback Mac Jones in, reinforcing his faith in Purdy.
The organization clearly has faith in Purdy's skillset; it rewarded him with a five-year, $265 million deal in the offseason. Still, Purdy's production has clearly fallen off his 2022 and 2023 highs. Shanahan has given no indication that he wants to make a change under center. But Purdy has some work to do to cement his place, especially with one of the league's better backups serving as his understudy.
Brock Purdy stats vs. Panthers
Completions/Attempts: 23/32
Passing Yards: 193
AVG: 8.3
Passing TDs: 1
INTs: 3
Rating: 58.5
Rushing Yards: 16
Rushing TDs: 0
Purdy started well on Monday night, finding Jauan Jennings with a short-range strike to get the 49ers on the board.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThen, the turnovers started. An errant Purdy throw found Jaycee Horn's waiting grasp partway through the first quarter. Then came another miscue, this one coming on an attempted pass to Ricky Pearsall.
Purdy's third interception was largely the result of a swift bit of prep work by Horn, who baited Purdy before recovering to corral the unruly pass.
His errors didn't come back to bite him — at least not initially. San Francisco's defense held tight, holding Carolina to a field goal in the opening 30 minutes of action. San Francisco extended the lead on a Christian McCaffrey touchdown in the third quarter, and while Carolina responded, the 49ers defense closed the game with some crucial stops.
Nevertheless, Purdy's numbers did not inspire confidence.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisement49ers QB depth chart
Rank
Player
1.
Brock Purdy
2.
Mac Jones
3.
Kurtis Rourke (Out)
If Shanahan were to switch things up under center, he has a decent option to go to in the form of Mac Jones. The former first-rounder was one of San Francisco's stars when Purdy was on the mend with shoulder and toe injuries.
Jones tallied 2,151 yards and 13 touchdowns to six interceptions in eight starts this year. He's completing 69.5% of his passes, better than Purdy's rate. More importantly, Jones is 5-3 in his starts, a decent return given all the injuries the Niners have endured.
Brock Purdy vs. Mac Jones season stats
Here's a look at how Purdy's numbers compare to those of Jones this season.
Brock Purdy
Mac Jones
3
GP
9
3-1
Record
5-3
98.3
Rate
97.4
90-131
Comp/Att
201-289
68.7
Comp. Pct.
69.6
979
Pass Yds
2,151
8
Pass TDs
13
7
INT
6
39
Rush Yards
61
0
Rush TDs
0
Brock Purdy contract
Years: Five
Value: $265 million
Purdy inked a five-year, $265 million deal in the offseason. The contract sees Purdy earn $182.55 million in guaranteed money, a step up from the $9.1 million he'll receive in 2025.
Purdy's contract will kick in during the 2026 season. With an average annual value of $53 million, Purdy is one of the league's highest-paid passers. His AAV is tied with Jared Goff for seventh-highest in the league.
It may pale in comparison to contracts offered to Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert. Still, Purdy was paid to be elite. Through four games in 2025, he has been anything but.
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