It's been a bit of a nightmarish season for Brock Purdy, who missed eight of the San Francisco 49ers' first 10 games with a toe injury and threw multiple interceptions in the two games he did start, but healthier days appear to be on the horizon.
Purdy is on the verge of a return, and he will take the reins of a 49ers team still very much in playoff contention at 6-4.
Mac Jones did what was asked of him in Purdy's absence, going 5-3 despite unexpectedly being thrust back into action after Purdy suffered a setback in Week 4. As much as the 49ers appreciate what Jones has done, they are undoubtedly hoping he plays second fiddle to Purdy the rest of the way.
Here's what you need to know about Purdy's status for Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals.
MORE WEEK 11 NFL:
- NFL power rankings for Week 11
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Is Brock Purdy playing this week vs. Cardinals?
Purdy is set to return for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, coach Kyle Shanahan announced Thursday.
Quarterback Brock Purdy will return to the starting lineup Sunday vs. The Cardinals, Kyle Shanahan just said during the taping of the 49ers Game Plan.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) November 13, 2025
"I wasn’t able to get there for a while," Purdy told The Athletic. "Now I feel ready to go."
Purdy's progression from a turf toe injury went slower than some assumed, as he missed six weeks after returning from a two-week absence early in the season, but the 49ers played it safe with their starter while Jones did what he had to do as a fill-in.
Now, Purdy is in line to face a Cardinals team coming off a demoralizing loss to the Seattle Seahawks and missing its top wideout in Marvin Harrison Jr.
The 49ers are 6-4 through 10 weeks, but they enter Week 11 outside the NFC playoff picture, just behind the 5-3-1 Green Bay Packers in the wild-card race. San Francisco trails the Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams by 1.5 games in the NFC West and can't gain ground on both this weekend, as those two will face off on Sunday.
MORE: How injuries piled up 49ers in first half of season
Who is Brock Purdy's backup?
Mac Jones has made eight starts in place of Purdy this season, going 5-3.
The 49ers signed Jones to a two-year deal in the offseason, after the former first-round pick spent one season as Trevor Lawrence's backup with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
49ers QB depth chart
| QB | Player |
| 1 | Brock Purdy |
| 2 | Mac Jones |
| 3 | Adrian Martinez |
Purdy will again assume his role as the 49ers' No. 1 quarterback, with Jones sliding back to the No. 2 role after eight starts.
Adrian Martinez, who has only thrown one NFL pass, served as Jones' backup while Purdy was out, but will be the team's emergency No. 3 quarterback as long as the entire quarterback room is healthy.