49ers' Brock Purdy Battles Back Soreness, Status Uncertain for Patriots Matchup

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has emerged as a bright spot for the injury-plagued team, but lingering back soreness has cast some doubt over his availability for their upcoming game against the New England Patriots.

With the San Francisco 49ers still reeling from a barrage of injuries to key players, quarterback Brock Purdy's back soreness has added another layer of uncertainty to the team's already troubled start to the season. Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced on Monday that Purdy is now considered day-to-day, his status for Sunday's game against the Patriots still up in the air.

Purdy, the 24-year-old who has taken the reins under center in the absence of Trey Lance, played through the discomfort in the Niners' 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, completing 22 of 30 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 41 rushing yards to his stat line.

49ers' Brock Purdy Battles Back Soreness, Status Uncertain for Patriots Matchup

An MRI on Monday revealed that Purdy's back is "mostly clean," according to NFL Insider Ian Rapoport. The results suggest that the issue is not a major one, but the Niners are limiting his participation in practice this week as a precaution.

The Niners' injury woes have been well-documented, with star players such as running back Christian McCaffrey, wide receiver Deebo Samuel, and tight end George Kittle all missing significant time. McCaffrey, who is currently on injured reserve with Achilles tendinitis, recently consulted a specialist in Germany to address the issue.

Adding to the team's defensive woes, defensive tackle Javon Hargrave suffered a partial triceps tear in the Rams game and is expected to miss the rest of the season. Shanahan indicated that Hargrave will require surgery and will be out for several months, effectively ending his 2022 campaign.

Despite the adversity, former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck believes that Purdy has the potential to lead the team to success, hailing him as "an absolute baller" in a recent appearance on FS1's "The Herd with Colin Cowherd."

The 49ers, who have started the season with a 1-2 record, will look to Purdy to continue his impressive performance against the Patriots on Sunday. The game, which will be nationally televised on FOX, will be a crucial test for the young quarterback and a depleted 49ers squad as they navigate through a challenging schedule.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.