Purdy Escapes Serious Injury as Seahawks Derail 49ers’ Top-Seed Hopes

The San Francisco 49ers’ regular season ended in frustration Saturday night, not only because of a 13–3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but because their franchise quarterback briefly lay on the turf with the game — and perhaps the postseason — hanging in the balance.

Brock Purdy exited on the final offensive snap after absorbing a heavy hit, prompting immediate concern across the sideline. The 49ers had already watched a year defined by injuries chip away at their roster, making any scare involving their quarterback especially alarming.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan later confirmed that Purdy suffered a stinger and would have returned if the drive had continued. The quarterback has dealt with similar nerve issues earlier in his career, including a series of stingers two seasons ago.

While the diagnosis brought relief, it did little to soften the larger outcome. The defeat handed Seattle the NFC West crown and stripped San Francisco of the No. 1 seed, erasing hopes of home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

1. The Hit That Sparked Alarm

The moment came on a fourth-and-6 with less than two minutes remaining. Purdy released an incomplete pass as linebacker Derick Hall and defensive lineman Leonard Williams arrived simultaneously, driving him to the ground. He remained down briefly, visibly shaken, before walking off under his own power and into the medical tent. Earlier in the game, Purdy had also suffered a cut to his throwing-hand thumb after striking Byron Murphy’s helmet, adding another layer of concern to an already difficult night. Seattle’s defense never relented. Purdy was sacked three times, hit three more times, and pressured on at least 11 of his dropbacks, the highest total he has faced this season. The absence of All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, sidelined with a hamstring injury, compounded the challenge. Without his blindside protector, Purdy rarely had the clean pocket that has defined much of his breakout campaign.

2. An Off Night for a Potent Offense

San Francisco’s usually explosive attack sputtered, finishing with just 173 total yards and nine first downs. It was a stark departure from a unit that has ranked among the league’s most efficient all season. Purdy completed 19 of 27 passes for 127 yards with one interception and no touchdowns — the first time this year he failed to throw a scoring pass. He added 21 rushing yards, but his 64.9 passer rating was his second-lowest of the season. Christian McCaffrey was equally bottled up, producing only 23 rushing yards and 34 receiving yards on six catches. As a team, the 49ers managed just 53 yards on the ground, a statistic that underscored Seattle’s dominance at the line of scrimmage. By contrast, the Seahawks controlled the clock for more than 37 minutes and amassed 361 yards, including 180 on the ground. Sam Darnold was efficient, completing 20 of 26 throws for 198 yards as Seattle methodically wore down San Francisco.

3. A Season Shaped by Attrition

The loss also reinforced a troubling trend. Since 2017, the 49ers are 1–38 under Shanahan when trailing by seven or more entering the fourth quarter, and winless when down at least 10 in the final period — numbers that highlight how rarely they claw back once momentum turns. Injuries have left little margin for error. Linebacker Fred Warner and defensive end Nick Bosa are already out for the season, while Williams and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall were inactive in Week 18. Shanahan expressed optimism that Purdy, Williams and Pearsall will be ready for the playoff opener, but the cumulative toll on the roster is unmistakable. San Francisco finishes the regular season 12–5, forced to surrender both the division title and the top seed, while Seattle moves to 14–3 and claims the NFC West crown.