The 49ers’ start to the NFC Championship Game was a worst-case scenario, and it never got much better in a 31-7 loss to the Eagles in Philadelphia.
After the Eagles scored a touchdown on the game’s opening series, Brock Purdy lost his first NFL fumble (in 275 touches) and injured his right elbow. Eagles sack leader Hasson Reddick beat tight end Tyler Kroft and hit Purdy on the arm as he was attempting to throw a second-down pass.
The officials initially ruled that Purdy had thrown the ball, but after Philadelphia challenged the play, the call was reversed and ruled a fumble recovered by Eagles lineman Linval Joseph. The 49ers forced a three-and-out, but the turnover was a much smaller problem than Purdy’s injury.
It was clear to Purdy that his elbow wouldn’t allow him to continue.
“He didn’t lobby (to return) much because he went and kept throwing and realized he couldn’t,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.
The 49ers believe Purdy injured his ulnar collateral ligament, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, but they’ll learn more from an MRI on Monday. If it is a complete UCL tear, Purdy would be facing Tommy John surgery and months-long recovery.
Josh Johnson took over at quarterback for about two quarters, going 7-of-13 before he slammed his head on the turf when he was hit by Eagles defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh early in the third quarter. Johnson exited the game, eventually ruled out after a concussion evaluation, and a hampered Purdy came back in.
Purdy completed the only pass on his first drive back in control, a third-down screen to Christian McCaffrey that came up short of the line to gain.
Johnson, a 36-year-old Oakland native, failed to gain momentum on his first two drives, but McCaffrey drove the 49ers down the field on Johnson’s third possession, totaling 44 yards on a 46-yard drive, including a 23-yard touchdown run.
On his fourth drive, though, Johnson made a crucial mistake, fumbling a hurry-up shotgun snap for a fumble that was recovered by Reddick. The Eagles scored a few plays later to take a 21-7 lead before halftime.
Johnson finished the day 7-of-13 for 74 yards, sacked twice for 14 yards and a lost fumble. Purdy finished 4-of-4 passing for 23 yards with a sack fumble and Christian McCaffrey attempted a deep pass that fell incomplete.
This was the first playoff action of Johnson’s 14-year career. He took 11 snaps in the 49ers’ win over the Bucs last month and 11 more in the season-ending win over the Cardinals, throwing two total passes and completing one for 10 yards.
