49ers' Shanahan reveals Brock Purdy's health status after first game back
Sunday marked Brock Purdy's first game back for the San Francisco 49ers since aggravating his turf toe injury in Week 4. The quarterback looked like his usual self, leading the team to a decisive 41-22 victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Purdy completed 19 of 26 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns, earning a 133.5 passer rating. More importantly, he appeared to escape his first action since September without further injury.
Speaking to reporters during a Monday conference call, head coach Kyle Shanahan said he hadn't had a chance to talk to Purdy since after the game, as players were off. The 49ers have an extra day this week ahead of their Monday night matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
"Just talking to him last night, I know he felt pretty good and seemed like he checked out alright," Shanahan said.
Purdy admitted after the game that he wasn't focused on the injury while on the field, which helped him to play at a high level.
"I was pretty good going into the game," Purdy said. "I mean, this is the reason why I told Kyle, 'It's time. It's ready, because I feel great.' You know, at practice, running around, all the things. So, coming into it, I didn't want to think about it at all, and I didn't. I just went out and played quarterback how I've always played. That's how I went about it. It feels great now and onto the next one."
Purdy initially injured his toe in the season opener and returned in Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, a comeback that Shanahan previously admitted may have been too soon. After a setback in that game, the 49ers were cautious with their franchise quarterback.
Backup Mac Jones performed well, keeping the team in playoff contention, but a strong week of practice finally convinced Purdy and the team that he was ready to return.
"It's always a challenge when you haven't played," Shanahan said. "I know he got to play versus Jacksonville, but that game, he totally wasn't himself because of the injury. So, he really, truly hasn't been able to play like himself since Week 1. Then so much goes on in between."
For some players, there is a mental hurdle to returning after a lengthy time on the sidelines. However, that wasn't an issue for Purdy.
"You always want to get to the game," Shanahan continued. "But how cool he was throughout the week, I think he made it very comfortable for all the guys, and pretty easy on us with what to expect.
"Then he was the exact same way in the game as he was all week. So, I think that speaks a lot about him and kind of how even keel he is."
Dak Prescott fires 4 TD passes as Cowboys crush Raiders
LAS VEGAS -- Eleven days after Dallas defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died during the team's bye week, the Cowboys returned to the field and emerged victorious, decisively beating the Las Vegas Raiders 33-16 on Monday.
Dak Prescott completed 25 of 33 passes for 268 yards and four touchdowns to four different receivers. Three of Prescott's passing TDs came during a 21-3 onslaught in the second quarter.
George Pickens finished with nine catches for 144 yards and a score for Dallas (4-5-1). Cowboys running back Javonte Williams gained 93 yards on 22 carries.
Raiders quarterback Geno Smith threw for 238 yards, one touchdown and one interception on 27-of-42 passing. Brock Bowers logged seven receptions for 72 yards.
Despite trailing 6-3 after the first period, the Cowboys broke through in the second, as Prescott's trifecta of touchdowns gave the Cowboys a comfortable 24-9 lead at halftime.
The first of those three touchdown passes came just nine seconds into the second quarter, when Prescott found a wide-open CeeDee Lamb from 18 yards out to give the Cowboys a 10-6 lead. Lamb's touchdown was the culmination of a six-play, 68-yard drive.
Dallas' next possession resulted in a 12-play, 79-yard touchdown drive that ate 6:33 of the game clock. Prescott found paydirt through tight end Jake Ferguson, who caught his seventh touchdown of the season from 5 yards out to put the Cowboys up 17-6 with 5:16 remaining in the half.
The third touchdown was the most impressive of the bunch, a 37-yard connection from Prescott to Pickens that saw the wide receiver spin away from Raiders cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly before evading two more defenders on his way to the end zone.
Brandon Aubrey's third extra point of the quarter gave Dallas a 24-6 lead with 1:20 remaining in the half, though the Raiders cut the deficit to 15 points at halftime on Daniel Carlson's third field goal of the game, from 38 yards out.
The Raiders opened the scoring on a 35-yard field goal from Carlson with 7:55 remaining in the first quarter, capitalizing on a Maxx Crosby strip sack of Prescott deep in Cowboys territory. After Brandon Aubrey booted a field goal from 50 yards out to tie the game 3-3 in the first quarter, Carlson made his second attempt of the night, from 45 yards, to put the Raiders ahead 6-3 after one.
Kneeland reported killed himself on Nov. 6 in Frisco, Texas, following a police car chase.
--Will Despart, Field Level Media
