49ers’ upcoming stretch will test Trent Williams’ exciting Brock Purdy claim

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) scores a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins in the second quarter during an NFL game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026. (Photo by Santiago Mejia/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

Even though his latest superb showing came against significantly inferior opposition in the form of the Miami Dolphins, the excitement around what 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has put together through the opening two weeks of the season is understandable.

Purdy was near-perfect in the 49ers' 35-13 rout of the rebuilding Dolphins, rewriting several pages of the record books in going 20 of 22 for 287 yards and two touchdowns. Purdy also led the 49ers in rushing with 30 yards and a rushing score.

Those numbers saw Purdy become the first player in NFL history to complete at least 90 percent of his passes, throw for at least 285 yards and two touchdowns and rush for a score in the same game.

With a completion percentage of 90.9, Purdy now owns the top two single-game completion percentage marks in 49er franchise history. He completed 95.2% of his passes against the Arizona Cardinals in a 35-16 win in October, 2023. In addition, he joined Derek Carr as only the second player to have multiple games with a completion rate of 90%-or-higher and at least 250 passing yards.

His passer rating of 149.1 gave Purdy an eighth career game with a rating of 140-or-higher and a 13th game with a rating of at least 130-or higher, both NFL records for a player in the first five seasons of his career.

Unsurprisingly, the praise for Purdy after the game from his teammates was effusive, though it was the comments of Trent Williams that were the most eye-catching.

Asked what impressed him most about Purdy's showing, the left tackle said:

It's hard for me to tell because I just see the ball coming over my head, but it was extremely accurate. He looked like he was just at practice out there, wheeling and dealing. Like I said, we're starting to witness Brock's prime and I think it's going to be a sight to behold. To me, I've always loved Brock, but I think he's starting to get his respect now. He doesn't even relish in it. It's all about next week, going 1-0, and that's why he's a great leader."

Williams' remarks about Purdy hitting his prime suggest even more impressive games are to come from the 49ers' signal-caller, but those exciting claims will be severely tested over the coming weeks.

An exacting three-game stretch

San Francisco's schedule over the next three games is very tough, with the 49ers hosting the Cardinals and the Denver Broncos before making the trip up to the Pacific Northwest for a matchup with the Seattle Seahawks.

While the visit of the Cardinals is not a fixture to inspire much fear, a divisional game against an opponent that has played the 49ers tough in recent years is not be taken lightly, though it is the meetings with the Broncos and Seahawks that will provide the sternest early examinations of Purdy's progress this year.

Facing a Denver defense that led the NFL in sacks (68) last season promises to be an extremely difficult challenge for Purdy, as does a reunion with a Seattle unit that overwhelmed the 49ers in Week 18 and in the divisonal round last season.

And the severity of the test he will face is potentially exacerbated by the 49ers' injury issues at wide receiver, where Demarcus Robinson is the latest player to head to be sidelined, having suffered a high-ankle sprain.

Robinson joining De'Zhaun Stribling and Chirstian Kirk on among the injured players at receiver is a huge hit to the 49ers' depth at wideout and, while San Francisco still has high end weapons in the likes of Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans and George Kittle, a paucity of supplementary options makes Purdy's job in overcoming two vaunted defenses that much harder.

The 49ers' 2025 season ended in ugly fashion with Purdy out of answers against the Seahawks as injuries left San Francisco with a skill-position cast ill-equipped to keep their playoff game competitive. The Niners still have enough weapons to trouble both Denver and Seattle but, with injuries impacting the depth, this upcoming slate and Purdy's ability to find solutions amid the offense's injury woes will provide an indicator as to the prescience of Williams' comments about his quarterback.