49ers Lose QB Brock Purdy, WRs Jennings & Pearsall Before OT Rams Win

When Brock Purdy, the starting quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers, was ruled out with a toe injury, the stakes for Thursday Night Football instantly rose.

That same evening, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall were also listed as inactive – Jennings because of a sprained ankle and Pearsall after a posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear. The 49ers entered the Week 5 Thursday Night FootballLos Angeles, California clash against their division rival, the Los Angeles Rams, with an injury report that read like a war‑zone roster.

Injury Fallout for the 49ers

Beyond the three skill‑position losses, the 49ers were shorthanded at several other spots. Wide receiver Jordan Watkins missed practice after a calf strain, while tight end George Kittle sat out with a hamstring pull that had lingered since Week 3.

On the defensive side, defensive end Robert Beal Jr. was sidelined with an ankle injury, and the league‑maverick defensive end Nick Bosa was out for the second straight week after tearing his ACL in a practice drill.

Two players were placed on Injured Reserve but slated to return by Week 6: defensive tackle Kevin Givens (pectoral) and wide receiver Jacob Cowing (hamstring). Quarterback Kurtis Rourke also hit the Non‑Football Injury Reserve list after a knee issue during a routine gym session.

Rams' Own Health Concerns

The Rams weren’t exactly on the injury‑free side either. Tight end Tyler Higbee was listed as doubtful after a hip strain, and veteran lineman Rob Havenstein carried a lingering ankle complaint that could have limited his snap count.

Nevertheless, Los Angeles entered the contest with a deeper receiving corps and a stable quarterback situation, giving them a strategic edge that the injury‑battered 49ers simply couldn’t match.

How the Absences Shaped the Game

The first half felt like a chess match with missing pieces. Without Purdy, veteran backup David Sills (who wasn’t on the injury list but was thrust into the spotlight) attempted to thread the ball to the few healthy receivers left. The Rams capitalized, building a 14‑3 lead before halftime.

San Francisco’s offense sputtered in the third quarter, managing only a field goal. The lack of a true deep threat – usually supplied by Jennings and Pearsall – forced the 49ers to rely on short, predictable routes that the Rams’ secondary, led by cornerback J.C. Jackson, read like an open book.

Extra time arrived after a dramatic fourth‑quarter drive that saw the 49ers rally to tie at 27‑27. In overtime, the Rams’ running back Kyren Williams broke a 30‑yard run to set up the game‑winning field goal. The final score – 30‑27 Rams – underscored how depth, or the lack thereof, can be a decisive factor on the gridiron.

Expert Take: Depth and Play‑Calling Under the Microscope

Sports analyst Mike Sokol from ESPN noted, “When you lose your quarterback and two starting wideouts, you’re forced into a conservative game plan. The 49ers tried to compensate with screen passes, but the Rams’ front seven smothered them.”

Defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans (now with the 49ers) reportedly praised the Rams for their “aggressive second‑down work” that exploited San Francisco’s limited play‑action options.

From a statistical angle, the 49ers recorded just 115 total passing yards – the lowest for a San Francisco offense in a Thursday night primetime game since 2013. Meanwhile, the Rams racked up 265 yards on the ground, illustrating how a balanced attack can thrive when the opponent is missing its offensive weapons.

Looking Ahead: Week 6 Projections

Going into Week 6, the 49ers hope for a quick return from the IR list. Kevin Givens is expected back against the Seattle Seahawks on October 12, and Jacob Cowing could finally see the field. However, Purdy’s toe injury is projected to linger at least another week, meaning the team may need to stick with their backup QB for the next two games.

The Rams, on the other hand, will try to ride the momentum from their win. If Higbee’s hip holds up, the team’s tight‑end trio could become a fatal combination for defenses that have struggled against two‑tight‑end sets this season.

Background: 49ers Injury Trends in 2025

This isn’t the first time the 49ers have faced a barrage of injuries in a single week. In Week 2 of the 2024 season, the team lost both of its starting running backs to hamstring strains, forcing a make‑shift running game that contributed to a narrow loss. The pattern this year mirrors that 2024 trend, with a cluster of soft‑tissue injuries (ankles, hamstrings, calves) and a few high‑impact ligament tears.

General manager John Lynch has publicly emphasized the need for “depth at every position” during post‑game press conferences, hinting that the front office may explore trade options before the trade deadline to fortify the roster.

Fans, meanwhile, remain hopeful. Ticket sales for the upcoming home game against the Arizona Cardinals have surged by 12% since the Rams’ victory, suggesting that despite the setbacks, the 49ers’ fan base remains engaged and eager for a bounce‑back performance.