With Brock Purdy Under Concussion Protocol, Will Kyle Shanahan Find His ‘Steve Young’ in 49ERS Backup QB Sam Darnold

Coach Kyle Shanahan dropped an injury bombshell, revealing that QB Brock Purdy is in the concussion protocol. His status for the upcoming game is up in the air. Shanahan is now eyeing 49ers‘ backup QB Sam Darnold to channel his inner ‘Steve Young.’ The big question is: Can the 49ers secure a win with Darnold at the helm?

Seasoned analysts believe that with the offensive weapons and Kyle Shanahan’s coaching, Darnold can succeed in this scenario. However, there is uncertainty if there’s a significant difference between Darnold and Brock in terms of performance. Moreover, there is no guarantee that the 49ers can win against the Bengals regardless of the quarterback choice.

Sam Darnold the ‘Steve Young’ Kyle Shanahan’s been searching for!

On the new episode of their podcast, Grant Cohn and Jessie Naylor discuss whether the San Francisco 49ers can win without Sam Darnold. Adam Schefter on ESPN says the 49ers are likely benching Purdy for the backup due to a concussion after a 17-22 loss to the Vikings and are facing the Bengals on Sunday. The hosts explore the possibility of a quarterback controversy.

Let’s break this down with Cohn and Naylor discussing a hot topic: Cohn starts by questioning whether Darnold is significantly worse than QB, Purdy (who is playing at MVP level). He’s not so sure, and Cohn is also uncertain if the Niners can beat the Cincinnati Bengals.

Naylor chimes in, and what’s fascinating is that Shanahan wanted Darnold like he was the second coming of ‘Steve Young.’ But Darnold’s track record is not exactly stellar. He’s won 21 games and lost 34 as a starter, with just two winning seasons in 2019 and 2022.

Naylor said: “You’re talking about a head coach who wanted Sam Darnold for a first-round pick just a couple years ago, talked about him like he’s the next ‘Steve Young,’ and brought him here.”

READ MORE – Brock Purdy Injury – What Is the NFL Concussion Protocol the 49ers QB Will Have to Pass? 

Naylor points out that we shouldn’t rule out the possibility of Shanahan making a change if Darnold has a couple of bad games but then suddenly performs well. The ideal time for such a switch would be coming out of a bye week. Shanahan clearly has a soft spot for Sam, so if he sees potential, he might not hesitate to make a move.

The million-dollar question: Can Darnold lead the team to victory?

Now, what’s intriguing here is the possibility that if Darnold plays poorly, the conversation might shift back to Trey Lance. You remember him, right? The Niners had the chance to start him this week, but instead, they went with Darnold. The key question is whether Darnold is good enough to lead the team to victory. Shanahan once offered a first-round pick for Darnold. 26 YO Darnold’s record is 21 wins and 34 losses, with just two winning seasons.

It’s worth noting that the 49ers once offered a first-round pick for Darnold, indicating their interest. However, the Jets turned down the offer, mainly due to concerns about their rookie QB, Zack Wilson, who had a shoulder issue they needed to check. Once they realized Wilson was good to go, they went back to the 49ers, but by then, the Niners had moved on and secured the third pick.

So, Darnold ended up with the Carolina Panthers. However, in March ’23, Darnold joined the 49ers for a year. By August, he earned the backup QB spot over Trey Lance, a 2021 top pick. And, this off-season, Lance got dealt to the Cowboys for a 4th-round pick.

In a nutshell, there’s a lot of speculation and intrigue surrounding Darnold, his performance, and how Shanahan views him. It’s a storyline worth keeping an eye on in the NFL.

WATCH THIS STORY – After Staggering Loss to 49ERS Cowboys CB Trevon Diggs Blasts Eagles Popular Brotherly Shove