Steelers' Patrick Peterson just gave Brock Purdy, 49ers bulletin board material
By Peter Panacy
Brock Purdy and the 49ers probably don't need too much motivation for Week 1 against the Steelers, but if they did, Patrick Peterson just supplied it.
The San Francisco 49ers haven't even played a meaningful snap for the 2023 season just yet, and the smack talk between players has already begun.
Thank goodness, right? It'd be boring otherwise.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad opens up its regular-season campaign on the road against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, and there'll be plenty of notable storylines to watch, including the coaching battle between Shanahan and Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin. The comparison between two elite Defensive Player of the Year edge rushers, Nick Bosa and T.J. Watt, should also be entertaining, too.
And while seeing second-year quarterback Brock Purdy on the field will be entertaining enough for Niners fans, one doesn't necessarily think of him having a rivalry with Pittsburgh's veteran cornerback, Patrick Peterson.
Purdy may now have one, though.
Steelers' Patrick Peterson says 49ers offense has 'some tell signs,' predicts he'll intercept Brock Purdy
Speaking on the All Things Covered podcast, which you can check out here, the longtime Arizona Cardinals defensive back admitted Shanahan's offense with San Francisco was a good one, and the veteran even admitted that Purdy wasn't going to make mental mistakes out on the field.
Peterson did, however, say that he knows some tendencies.
“There's some tell signs out there that tell us what plays we’re going to get from those guys in certain situations,” he said.
Exactly what those are, Peterson wouldn't reveal. He did, however, predict that he would intercept Purdy at some point during the game.
“When I get my pick Sunday we’ll talk about it,” the defensive back added.
Brock Purdy claps back at Patrick Peterson... nicely
Following practice on Thursday, Purdy was asked about Peterson's comments. When he heard what the Pittsburgh defender had said, the second-year signal-caller did some modest clapping back of his own.
By starting with a compliment, of course.
"Patrick Peterson's a great player," Purdy responded. "I grew up watching him and everything. I was obviously from Arizona, he played for the Cardinals and stuff."
Related story: 49ers vs. Steelers: How to watch, stream and bet on Week 1 showdown
Killing an opponent with kindness, right?
"It's the competitive nature, I guess, of football, so we'll see," Purdy finished.
Purdy, 23 years old, will be testing a 33-year-old Peterson this Sunday when both teams square off for their Week 1 matchup at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.