The wait is finally over. Brock Purdy is back and ready to run the San Francisco 49ers offense again. He will start against the Arizona Cardinals, taking control of the unit Mac Jones held down for several weeks. So, how did Jones react when he learned the news? Kyle Shanahan offered the answer himself.

“Honestly, it was awesome. He’s understood it the whole time. I think he had a real good idea that Brock was getting there, was going to be ready this week. It wasn’t something that I really had to have a big meeting with or anything, but I did before we went out on the practice field.”

In Purdy’s absence, Jones kept the 49ers afloat. He threw for 2,151 yards in eight starts. He tossed 13 touchdowns and only six picks. However, the shift always felt inevitable. Shanahan said multiple times that Purdy would get the job back the moment he healed. Jones’ run never changed that plan.

At the same time, the best development for the Red and Gold might be realizing they have two steady hands at quarterback. Shanahan doubled down on that belief.

“Mac handled it great since the beginning. Him and Brock have been studs together in the room together. They help each other a ton. They enjoy each other. And I’m really pumped to have him this year and I’m really pumped that we have him next year also.”

That partnership eased the noise around a so-called controversy. Now Purdy walks back in as the starter when the 49ers, sitting at 6-4, head to State Farm Stadium to face the 3-6 Cardinals. So, Shanahan is thrilled to finally have his QB1 back onto the field.

Kyle Shanahan is excited about Brock Purdy’s return

Brock Purdy missed six games with turf toe and two earlier ones before that. The team went 5-3 in that stretch. He played only two games and posted an 85.8 rating with 586 yards, four touchdowns, and four picks. Now he returns to lead the Red and Gold again, and Kyle Shanahan sounds fired up about it.

“Just having him back. I know it was a long wait for him. Each week watching him get better and better. I thought this was an awesome week for him. Just getting back to doing what he does, do what we do, and do it aggressively.”

Meanwhile, losing a franchise quarterback for most of the first ten games can crush a season. Many teams fold after that. Yet the 49ers did not. Mac Jones kept them steady and kept them fighting. Right now, the team sits at 6-4 and stays in the playoff mix.

So Purdy sees that too and made sure he said it out loud.

“He came in and played extremely well and kept our team alive and moving and going. And so, I appreciate him for that and just everything he’s brought to our team.”

However, Purdy’s road has never been smooth. He missed 12 of the last 18 games with shoulder, elbow, and toe issues. He once played through a fractured rib and even needed elbow surgery after 2022. There is still no promise his toe holds up now. That is why having Jones around matters for this season and next.