December 30, 2024; Santa Clara, California, United States; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joshua Dobbs (5) scores a touchdown against the Detroit Lions during the fourth quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory credit: Sergio Estrada-Imagn Photographs
Out of the playoff race, the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals are preparing to start substitutes due to injuries for their season-ending showdown Sunday in Glendale, Arizona.
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan announced Wednesday that Joshua Dobbs will be the starting quarterback in place of Brock Purdy, who suffered a right elbow contusion with nerve inflammation in Monday’s 40-34 loss to the visiting Detroit Lions.
Dobbs, who played eight games for the Cardinals (7-9) last season while Kyler Murray recovered from a knee injury, finished Monday’s game for San Francisco (6-10).
He played five snaps, completing three of four pass attempts for 35 yards and rushing for a 7-yard touchdown.
Brandon Allen started for Purdy earlier in the season in a 38-10 loss to the Green Bay Packers when the latter was out with a shoulder injury.
“(Dobbs) has been great, him and Brandon,” Shanahan said. “It’s been good to have two guys there. Both have looked very good on the scout team.
“They split the reps and are always ready. Both prepare as if they were going to be starters every week. “They have been great.”
Tight end George Kittle (ankle, hamstring), wide receiver Deebo Samuel (ribs, wrist) and defensive end Nick Bosa (knee) were noted as nonparticipants in practice until Wednesday.
Arizona placed running back James Conner (knee) on injured reserve this week and recalled Michael Carter from the practice squad. Rookie running back Trey Benson (ankle) also was placed on injured reserve, and offensive lineman Nick Leverett signed from the practice squad to fill the roster vacancy.
Carter played the final two games due to injuries to Conner and Benson and totaled 88 yards on 18 carries and seven catches for 41 yards.
DeeJay Dallas, the only other running back on the 53-man roster, is likely to receive carries. Arizona also has Tony Jones Jr. and Hassan Corridor on its practice squad.
“Everyone has their roles, but (Carter) will get a lot of carries, I’m sure,” Arizona coach Jonathan Gannon said.
The teams last met in Santa Clara, California, on October 6, when the Cardinals improved to 2-3 with a 24-23 victory.
After losing the following week at Green Bay, Arizona won four straight games to improve to 6-4 and atop the NFC West going into its bye week.
However, the Cardinals have lost five of their last six, including two against the division rival Seattle Seahawks, to fall out of playoff contention.
Murray is coming off a 33-pass, 321-yard performance against the host Los Angeles Rams, but had two interceptions in the 13-9 loss.
Arizona’s only touchdown was a 1-yard completion from Murray to Trey McBride, who caught his first touchdown this season. He finished with 12 receptions for 123 yards.
“I think for me, and for any player in general, going into the last game and the offseason, I think it’s important to feel good about your last performance,” Murray said. “Me personally, I would like to go into the offseason playing well and keep that in mind.”
Shanahan mentioned that although 11 San Francisco players missed practices this week and receiver Ricky Pearsall (illness, chest) and safety Ji’Ayir Brown (ankle) were limited, the last game is not seen as a way to get reps. for younger players.
“Rosters aren’t built like that,” Shanahan said. “You can seat five to seven guys. You can seat seven if you bring two guys from the practice squad. You don’t sit there and tell every veteran that he’s going to be the backup and play special teams.
“We don’t have schools like that anywhere. You have to balance it to make sure you have 48 guys that can play.”
–Media at field level
