The 49ers were a fourth-down stop away from a championship in February, but they once again came up short of their ultimate goal. While San Francisco's roster remains loaded with talent, will the pain of that defeat weigh on the organization in 2024? That question is especially pertinent to QB Brock Purdy, who wasn't in the NFL when the 49ers struggled to rebound from their Super Bowl loss four years ago and is still only 24. All indications so far point to impressive mental toughness for Purdy, and it won't hurt having a cast of Pro Bowl weapons to help get back into a rhythm this season.
Just as important for the 49ers is keeping Purdy healthy. San Francisco got a full season out of its quarterback in 2023, and star tackle Trent Williams is back in the fold after a contract dispute threatened his status for the start of the season. If Purdy is upright, the 49ers should be positioned to contend for another NFC title.
Here's a look at who's up next if he goes down. MORE: Why Deebo Samuel changed his jersey number for 2024 49ers QB depth chart QB1: Brock Purdy It was only a year ago that there was still some uncertainty surrounding Purdy's status as the 49ers' starter. Were eight starts, including three in the playoffs, enough to cement him as the leader of a championship contender? Kyle Shanahan insisted Purdy was his starter, and the quarterback recovered quickly enough from offseason elbow surgery to ward off any potential challenge from Sam Darnold or Trey Lance.
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