The 49ers make the official decision regarding Brock Purdy’s injury in the game against Bills

The (5-6) San Francisco 49ers could use some good news on the injury front, especially as they face the (9-2) Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football in Week 13. For example, quarterback Brock Purdy missed his final game with a shoulder injury, another unwanted addition to his injury list that includes Nick Bosa (hip and oblique), Aaron Banks (concussion) and Brandon Aiyuk (knee/out for the season). However, Purdy was medically cleared to play on Sunday and the 49ers officially listed him as an active player against the Bills.

“49ers QB Brock Purdy is officially active,” NFL insider Ian Rapoport said on X, formerly Twitter.

Week 13: 49ers vs. Bills

Heading into their Week 13 game against the Bills, the 49ers weren’t having the season they expected after reaching the Super Bowl last February. Additionally, some of this is injury-related, as prior to Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey was forced to miss much of the season due to his Achilles tendon injury, while linebacker Fred Warner played the entire season with a broken ankle.

With a record of 5-6, the 49ers currently don’t have much of a chance of making the playoffs, at least statistically speaking. For example, ESPN’s Football Power Index gave them only a 17% chance of qualifying for the postseason, while the chance of winning the division is lower at 13%.

They also trail the Cardinals (49%) and Seahawks (24.9%). Meanwhile, FTN’s DVOA has given them just an 11.5% chance of making the playoffs, a 7.9% chance of winning the NFC West and a 3.6% chance of a wild card spot. At this point, the 49ers are at the bottom of the NFC West.

Hope?

Nevertheless, the team itself has not run out of hope. Injuries aside, they still have six games to address the on-field issues that have plagued them all season: unnecessary penalties, turnovers, missed tackles, lack of special teams and more.

However, tight end George Kittle still believes in his squad.

“We still have a lot of very talented players,” he said, via Nick Wagoner of ESPN, after the Green Bay Packers beat them 38-10. “We’re going to get some guys back and I continue to have every confidence in the coaching staff to put our guys in a position to make plays and I’m not worried about that. But in any case, things will go uphill and we’ll see what we’re capable of, which I’m looking forward to.”

The 49ers aren’t in a good position and the odds aren’t on their side, but at least they have six games to catch or overtake most of their competitors in the NFC West. With a bit of luck they could still salvage a disappointing season.