'A dream to work with,' Purdy returns, powers 49ers to win - ESPN

PITTSBURGH — Exactly six months ago, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy underwent surgery on the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow. The Niners and Purdy entered that day uncertain about when the former «Mr. Irrelevant» would return to football and, when he did, how he would fare.

On Sunday at Acrisure Stadium, Purdy offered answers to both questions in San Francisco's resounding 30-7 win against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

«Purdy shut some haters up [today],» defensive end Nick Bosa said. «I think whenever a guy comes back from an injury, people kind of don't expect him to make another leap in the second year, I'm just happy for him. He's exactly who we thought he was.»

The Purdy under center for the Niners on Sunday bore a striking resemblance to the one the Niners saw down the stretch and in the postseason last year before he tore that UCL in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. The only noticeable difference this time was the «C» on Purdy's chest after his teammates voted him a first-time captain last week.

Coincidentally, the Niners and Purdy returned to Pennsylvania for his first regular-season start since the injury. Purdy finished 19-of-29 for 220 yards and two touchdowns for a passer rating of 111.3 and tacked on three carries for 20 yards as the Niners jumped on the Steelers early and didn't need much from the passing game in the second half.

According to NFL research, Purdy became the first quarterback in NFL history to win his first six regular-season starts and throw at least two touchdown passes in each game. He's also the first quarterback to post a passer rating of 95.0 or better in each of his first six regular-season starts.

«You can't tell the difference