The 49ers went undefeated in September, and now comes their first test of October as they face the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon.
Brock Purdy has led the 49ers’ charge through their first three games and was named the offensive player of the month in the NFC, the first 49ers quarterback in a quarter-century to earn that honor. He has a passer rating of 133.1 with nine touchdowns and a single interception, thrown in the season opener in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams.
His work has been particularly important as the Niners deal with a litany of injuries, particularly to his receiving corps and the defensive line. Among the pass-catchers, they lost Ricky Pearsall (ankle) before the season, De’Zhaun Stribling (ankle) and Jake Tonges (knee) in the opener, and Demarcus Robinson (ankle) two weeks ago. Mike Evans left last week’s win over Arizona with a rib injury and entered Sunday questionable to play.
On the defensive line, Nick Bosa is out again with a calf strain and Keion White was questionable with a hamstring strain. Sam Okuayinonu went on injured reserve before the season with a foot injury and was soon joined by second-year players C.J. West (knee) and Alfred Collins (knee).
Despite those missing pieces, the 49ers have won their first three games. Whether their replacements can hold the line will go a long way toward determining who wins Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, where there is a heat advisory in effect with a high of 92 degrees.
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