The San Francisco 49ers suffered a 26-15 loss to the Houston Texans, a game head coach Kyle Shanahan summed up bluntly: “They kicked our a**.” The defeat exposed gaps on both sides of the ball and left the team searching for answers as it fights through injuries and inconsistency.
Quarterback Brock Purdy has been sidelined for most of the season with lingering toe issues and related problems as he works his way back.
NFL insider Mike Garafolo reported that Purdy’s availability for Sunday’s game against the New York Giants would be evaluated on Wednesday as he continues his recovery. The team has tried to strike a balance between caution and the need to get its leader back on the field.
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Purdy on the criticism: “That’s just the nature”
Purdy addressed the criticism and disrespect he’s received with calm and clarity.
“That’s just the nature of what comes with the sport. You’re playing a professional sport in the NFL. There’s going to be people who have an opinion. If they didn’t have an opinion, they wouldn’t have a job,” he said, then shifted the focus back to what matters for him, which is identity, work and trust.
Brock Purdy on the criticism and disrespect he receives:
“That’s just the nature of what comes with the sport. You’re playing a professional sport in the NFL. There’s going to be people who have an opinion. If they didn’t have an opinion, they wouldn’t have a job. And so that’s… pic.twitter.com/GVZsKOUqQM
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) October 28, 2025
He added that he shows up “ready to work,” is “willing to lay down my life to win for this organization,” and believes that as long as he and his teammates maintain trust, outside noise doesn’t change their focus.
The criticism he referenced seems to come from imperfect results and the scrutiny that follows every play.
Mac Jones has stepped in as Purdy’s backup and, according to reports, has delivered when called upon, keeping the team competitive during Purdy’s absence. He threw for 1597 yards and eight touchdowns, with a 59.0 QB rating so far.
Mac Jones, Who? HERO JONES????#49ers QB Mac Jones recorded a 12.5% HERO throw rate in Sunday’s loss to the Texans.
In simple terms, that means 12.5% of his passes were considered exceptional — high-difficulty throws that elevated the play’s outcome.
For comparison, the next… pic.twitter.com/FXIzRnw8SP
— 49ers & NFL News 24/7 (@49ersSportsTalk) October 29, 2025
Meanwhile, Shanahan and GM John Lynch are weighing midseason roster moves ahead of the trade deadline asking whether a trade helps this year and next.
Shanahan stressed that any addition must genuinely help both short- and long-term, a stance shaped by injuries and the reality that no single move will fully replace missing stars.
