Purdy to start against Cardinals after 6-game absence

Brock Purdy will start for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, head coach Kyle Shanahan announced Thursday, according to NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco.

The quarterback has missed the Niners' last six games while rehabbing a toe injury. He initially sustained it during San Francisco's season opener versus the Seattle Seahawks. He returned after missing the team's next two contests but re-aggravated the injury against the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 28.

The 25-year-old has been a limited participant in practices over the past three weeks. The Niners planned to ramp up his workload this week with the intention of inserting him into the starting lineup Sunday.

Mac Jones has led the 49ers' offense with Purdy sidelined, guiding the team to a 5-3 record in his absence.

Purdy returns as San Francisco continues a second-half push for a playoff spot in the NFC. He helped the club reach the NFC Championship Game during the 2022 season and propelled it to an appearance in Super Bowl LVIII the following year.