For the Niners, this season hasn’t been pleasant. It’s been more like a rough ride. With a 5-5 win-loss record, they’re sitting fourth in the NFC West. If you think that’s bad, brace yourselves for more bad news. Head coach Kyle Shanahan announced the injury list after practice on November 22, and his revelations were shocking.

In the Friday press conference, Shanahan revealed that Nick Bosa and Brock Purdy were out for the Week 12 game against the Packers. Besides them, offensive tackle Trent Williams (who will be given “right up until kickoff” to assess his chances of playing) and offensive lineman Jon Feliciano are also questionable. This was a situation that even the head coach wasn’t expecting, but despite these major absences, he sent a positive message to his locker room.

It happened when a reporter asked Kyle Shanahan, “Without Purdy and Bosa, the situation obviously doesn’t look great. It’s the NFL. Everyone will say, ‘Oh, gosh! You’ve got no chance.’ But crazier things have happened. What’s your message to the team when you face thins kind of adversity?”

Highlighting that their team is still strong despite Bosa and Purdy’s sidelining, Shanahan said, “I think we’ve had a really good week of practice. I know it’s disappointing. We knew there was a chance with Nick. I think the guys were a little surprised with Brock yesterday. But we addressed all that today, and we’re gonna have 48 guys in uniform.” After the Niners’ surprising 20-17 loss to the Seahawks last Sunday, Brock Purdy had an MRI scan due to experiencing a shoulder strain.

Subsequently, after he had limited involvement in the Wednesday and Thursday practices and missed Friday practice entirely, Shanahan issued an update on his quarterback. Could the 24-year-old miss more than just the Packers game? “I don’t want to say there’s long-term concern,” the head coach said, referring to the MRI scan. “We thought he just needed some rest and really weren’t concerned about him not being good this week. But when he started up Thursday, [his shoulder] just surprised him, surprised us, how it felt.”

While he is set to miss the Week 12 game, Shanahan isn’t too concerned about the Bills matchup in Week 13. As for Nick Bosa, he injured his oblique against the Seahawks, where he left the game and didn’t return. The defensive end’s injury came just a week after he’d injured his other oblique, which means that he’s recovering from a double strain.

After Bosa left the game, Seattle managed two touchdown drives, including the game-winner. Following the Week 11 loss, when asked about the second oblique injury, the pass rusher revealed it was “not great,” adding, “That’s why I had to stop playing. I guess I was compensating [for the other injury]… Hopefully, it’s not too long [until I’m back]. But I don’t know. We’ve gotta see.” Well, he won’t be back this week as the Niners travel to Wisconsin.

Despite Purdy and Bosa’s absence, showing his faith in his team, Kyle Shanahan continued, “I know our guys believe in themselves. I know I believe in them. We’re missing two good players definitely, but we’ve got a lot of good players. By no means do we not have a chance to win. So, we’re gonna fight our tails off and expect this to be a really good game.” That’s some positivity for the locker room right there.

With 7 wins and 3 losses, the Packers are a tough opponent. The quarterback can be a difference here, and there’s no question the San Francisco-based franchise will go into the game at a disadvantage. While Jordan Love is fit and healthy, Purdy won’t be there. In 10 games this season, ‘Mr. Irrelevant’ threw for 2,613 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 8 interceptions. As for Love, in 8 games, he recorded 2,081 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, but he does have a 5-3 win-loss record. But that’s not all.

There’s one more factor, too. Playing at home – the Lambeau Field – would also be another advantage for the Packers. That said, going into the Week 12 game, Kyle Shanahan has made Brandon Allen the starting quarterback. And the 32-year-old couldn’t help but give Brock Purdy a shoutout!

Brock Purdy has full faith in Kyle Shanahan’s replacement for him

With the Week 12 game being his first chance to start since 2021, Brandon Allen acknowledged all that he’s learned from Purdy. He told reporters, “He’s unbelievable, the way he prepares. And you kind of have to be able to execute this offense well… So there is a lot that goes into it. When I first got here last year, watching him do, I was like, ‘Okay, this is kind of how you have to study here.’

“Because you can go other places and offenses aren’t as complex, aren’t as difficult. In this offense, we really do a good job moving guys around and getting guys open. So, watching him prepare and the way he does, I’ve definitely tried to model my preparation after him,” the quarterback added. And Purdy thinks Allen has it in him to carry the Niners.

Allen revealed a conversation he had with the injured quarterback: “He believes in me, says ‘You’re here for a reason. Go in, step up, play well.’ He’ll be back. So I’m not worried about it.” As for Purdy’s shoulder injury, Allen isn’t too concerned about it being a long-term thing, either. “I’m not too worried about it; I don’t think any of our guys are,” he said. “He’ll rehab and get back as fast as he can. And as far as shoulders, it happens. I don’t think it’ll be anything lingering or long-term for him.”

That said, do you think Brandon Allen can hold down the fort for the Niners and lead them to a much-needed win against the Packers on Sunday?