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The San Francisco 49ers’ 35-13 win against the Miami Dolphins, whom many expect to have one of the first picks in next year’s NFL draft, might not be remembered as one of Brock Purdy’s most notable games since he became the starter in 2022.
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But it was another example of Purdy’s evolution from a young starting quarterback into a veteran. He completed 20 of 22 passes for 287 yards (13 yards per attempt), two touchdowns and no interceptions. He added a team-high 30 rushing yards and scrambled for a touchdown in the second quarter. Purdy played well enough that Mac Jones replaced him with about seven minutes remaining and the 49ers leading 35-6.
“MVP Brock Purdy,” linebacker Fred Warner said afterward.
Purdy led scoring drives on the 49ers’ first five possessions Sunday as San Francisco improved to 2-0. But it wasn’t always a laugher.
The 49ers had only two first-half possessions, while the Dolphins had three. Miami missed a field goal and made two before halftime, when San Francisco led 14-6. The Dolphins had the ball for 19:17 of the first half’s 30 minutes.
“They were eating up clock. So for me, every play, every drive, mattered,” Purdy said. “It wasn’t like we went out and just blew these guys out. It was a game. … That’s where my headspace was at. How can I protect the ball, how can I be in the right looks and be aggressive, and keep us ahead of the chains.”
Miami’s ability to control the clock with its running game put pressure on the 49ers’ offense to keep scoring early. Purdy responded with one of the best quarters of his career, completing all 10 of his passes in the third quarter for 180 yards. The 49ers outscored Miami 21-0 in the quarter and cruised to victory.
“I thought he had his best training camp, in terms of being aggressive with things, but not stupid,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said Sunday.
Purdy’s performances in practice throughout August didn’t generate the same level of headlines as the 49ers’ injuries. But he quietly showed a different level of command of the offense while balancing aggression with quick decision-making.
“Still making the right efficient decision, but there’s a chance of things being aggressive and I’ve seen that here these last two weeks,” Shanahan said. “I think the more he plays, the experience, the easier defenses (are) to recognize, and things like that. But he played so good right away that it’s not like, ‘oh, he’s so much better in this area.’ You gradually become a vet and use everything that you’ve seen. You’re used to every situation you’ve been in. You’ve been up. You’ve been down. You’ve seen everything people are throwing at you, and you just get more used to it.”
After a pass went off Deebo Samuel’s hands early in the first quarter, Purdy completed his next 18 passes for 276 yards. The streak ended with an intentional-grounding penalty in the fourth quarter.
During that stretch, Purdy produced one of his early-season highlights. He rolled left, pump-faked Dolphins linebacker Willie Gay Jr. into the air and hit Mike Evans in stride for a 27-yard gain. Christian McCaffrey scored his second 1-yard touchdown on the next snap.
Purdy’s teammates have effusively praised him since he became the starter and helped the team reach the playoffs three times in three seasons. But there’s a feeling around the team that Purdy has a chance to take things to a different level in 2026 as he enters his prime — he won’t turn 27 until Dec. 27.
Tight end George Kittle, who caught four passes for a team-high 80 yards and his first touchdown since returning from his Achilles tear, said Purdy’s growing confidence has been evident since the offseason.
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“I’m just watching how he handles the ball,” Kittle said. “The pass that he threw to Mike Evans, he rolls out, pump fakes a guy, keeps his eyes downfield. Quarterbacks without confidence aren’t going to make that pass. Mike Evans is down there, he has a step on the guy, ‘I can make that throw.’ He’s doing it all day. We saw it through all of training camp, you see it against the Rams, he’s stepping into throws, deep balls to Deebo, Mike, everybody.”
Another sign of Purdy’s confidence and command came in Australia during the season-opening win against the Los Angeles Rams, when Purdy found receiver Demarcus Robinson for a 39-yard touchdown, San Francisco’s first of the season.
“Demarcus is not in the read on that,” Juszczyk said. “He’s like the fourth read. He’s what we call an alert, and for Brock to be tapped into that and in the 2% that’s going to open up, and he has the confidence to step into it and rip it, I love to see him just continue to get more and more confidence.”
Through two games, Purdy had completed 80% of his passes for 492 yards with five touchdown passes and one interception.
Purdy’s $265 million contract extension in 2025 brought greater expectations as the team’s aging stars moved deeper into their careers. Players like Trent Williams, George Kittle, McCaffrey, Nick Bosa and Fred Warner were getting older, increasing the importance of Purdy elevating his game as the 49ers pursued another Super Bowl appearance.
“I feel like I answer that question all the time,” Christian McCaffrey said when asked if Purdy is taking his play to new heights in 2026. “He’s an incredible, great quarterback. He’s unbelievable. Can he take it to another level? I mean, yeah.
“But he’s already in that category of somebody that is special. So again, I’ve been answering that question for years now. ‘Are you shocked how good he is? And then the next week, are you shocked how good he is? Now I’m not shocked. He’s special.”
McCaffrey reaches 100 TDs, but injuries raise questions for offense
McCaffrey scored two touchdowns, giving him 100 regular-season touchdowns for his career and 50 each with the 49ers and Carolina Panthers, who drafted him in 2017 before trading him to San Francisco in 2022.
He tied Curtis Martin, Franco Harris and 49ers legend Frank Gore at 100 career regular-season touchdowns and became the fourth-fastest player in the modern era to reach the mark. Only Randy Moss and Marshall Faulk had scored at least 50 touchdowns for two teams, according to ESPN.
“It’s a blessing to be able to play this game and stuff like that is always cool,” McCaffrey said. “But it’s always about the team … I watched all those guys growing up. Marshall Faulk being somebody that I’ve probably seen every single snap he’s played. So I don’t take it for granted.”
But the news wasn’t all good for the 49ers Sunday. Robinson suffered a high ankle sprain after making a 20-yard catch to the Miami 4-yard line in the second quarter, Shanahan said. Such injuries typically require four to six weeks of recovery. Evans later left with a hip injury, though Shanahan said it didn’t appear to be a long-term issue.
Shanahan was asked if Brandon Aiyuk, who had not been with the team since last season and was on the reserve/left squad list, could be an option.
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“No,” Shanahan said.