Following the loss to the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy entered the NFL’s concussion protocol. Video evidence suggests the incident occurred on a designed quarterback sneak, where Purdy took a hit to the head from Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks.
While Hicks wasn’t penalized during the game for the hit, he could be subject to a fine for violating NFL rules. According to the NFL rules, a player is not allowed to lower his head and make forceful contact with another player.
Hicks and Purdy being in the center of a quarterback sneak with so many bodies on top of one another made it difficult for the officiating crew to see and/or call a penalty on Hicks in real-time. However, that doesn’t mean Hicks is off the hook just yet.
Purdy never left the game as a result of the helmet-to-helmet contact but was visibly struggling on the field following the hit. Both of Purdy’s interceptions came after the hit had occurred, could there be a correlation?
Regardless of how it played out during the game, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan announced that Purdy is in the concussion protocol as of Wednesday. Now, it remains to be seen whether or not he will be cleared in time for Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
If he is unable to get cleared, the 49ers will look to backup quarterback Sam Darnold to start in Purdy’s place.
The NFL has until Saturday to announce whether or not Hicks will be fined for the helmet-to-helmet hit he had on Purdy.
