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49ers’ Brock Purdy may have become a trivia answer with J.J. Watt’s sack

By Kurt Mensching

J.J. Watt #99 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
J.J. Watt #99 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on prior to the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 08, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has a chance to put his name to more than one trivia question on Sunday.

Purdy already sits alongside famed Miami Dolphins QB Dan Marino “as the only QBs since 1950 with at least two touchdown passes and a passer rating of 100 or higher in each of their first three career starts,” per Eduardo Razo of NBC Sports Bay Area.

Purdy’s also started off his career by winning every game he’s played, including all four starts.

He became just the fourth rookie QB to do that, joining Ben Roethlisberger (2004), Phil Simms (1979) and Mike Kruczek (1976), per NFL research. Only Roethlisberger and Kruczek won their first five.

A TD Sunday also gave Purdy the record for touchdown passes by a 49ers rookie QB (11).

49ers’ Purdy becomes 50th QB sacked by J.J. Watt

Now, he has had the honor (?) of being sacked by Cardinals defensive end JJ Watt, who is retiring after the game.

That makes his the 50th QB sacked by Watt. We’ll know in a few hours if he’s the last one as well.

That makes 113 regular-season sacks across 12 seasons for Watt.

As for Purdy, he’s doing OK himself including that 21-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey. He passed Tom Owens’ 1974 mark for the 49ers rookie record with that.

Watt has been a force since entering the league: a three-time defensive player of the year, five-time First Team All-Pro, two-time yearly sacks leader, and more.

Purdy’s been pretty good himself. Stepping in for QB Jimmy Garoppolo when the 49ers’ playoff hopes were suddenly up in the air, he’s brought calm and efficiency to the San Francisco offense, as well as unlocked tight end George Kittle.

The 49ers haven’t lost since and Purdy has made himself a strong contender for offensive rookie of the year.

While Purdy says he doesn’t get caught up in stats, it’s not a bad one to known for — and hey, at least there’s at least 49 other QBs out there to commiserate with about it.