49ers QB Brock Purdy in Concussion Protocol, Sam Darnold in Line to Start

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is in concussion protocol, head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Wednesday afternoon.

Shanahan said Purdy reported concussion symptoms on the plane ride home from San Francisco's 22-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night. It remains unclear if Purdy sustained a concussion. The second-year QB will participate in the walk-through period of Wednesday's practice as his Week 8 status is up in the air.

"He does have enough time, he just has to go through the process," Shanahan said, via The Mercury News, when asked if Purdy could be medically cleared by Sunday's game.

Purdy threw interceptions on both of San Francisco's last two offensive drives in the Week 7 loss—the 49ers' second in as many weeks. The 23-year-old tallied 272 yards and a touchdown on the night and was sacked only once. Shanahan speculated that Purdy could have suffered his possible concussion during a QB sneak late in the fourth quarter of Monday's game.

The 49ers drafted Purdy with the final selection of the 2022 NFL Draft, making him "Mr. Irrelevant." But the signal-caller has been anything but that so far in the NFL. The Iowa State product took over as the starter after injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo last season and led the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game as a rookie.

Purdy won his first 10 regular season NFL starts. The signal-caller has thrown for 1,668 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions so far this season.

Sam Darnold in Line to Start for 49ers

Backup quarterback Sam Darnold is likely to start for the 49ers in Week 8.

As Shanahan pointed out, there is still time for Purdy to make his way through concussion protocol, a process created to ensure NFL players are fully recovered from their head or neck injuries before returning to on-field action. But it seems unlikely. No NFL player placed into concussion protocol this season has played the same week, according to ESPN.

Darnold, the 2018 No. 3 overall pick by the New York Jets, is in his first year with the 49ers. The 26-year-old spent the last two seasons with the Carolina Panthers after a three-year tenure with the Jets. Darnold has started 55 NFL games. The sixth-year pro has thrown for 61 career touchdowns and 55 interceptions.

The 49ers (5-2) host the Cincinnati Bengals (3-3) at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday. San Francisco started the season 5-0 but has dropped two straight.