The San Francisco 49ers received an unexpected guest during Steve Young's weekly appearance on Bay Area radio station KNBR—none other than franchise legend Jerry Rice. Naturally, the Hall of Fame wide receiver was asked about his former team's recent injury woes, prompting him to jokingly suggest that desperate times might call for desperate measures.
"It's been a crazy season, man," Rice said. "Steve and I, we might have to go back and suit up. It's hard to get bodies on the field now, but the Niners just got to continue to win football games, find a way to get it done, and somehow, once everybody is healthy again, then we'll make that charge."
Of course, the 49ers aren't about to fit the 63-year-old icon for a game-day uniform, but Rice's point underscores the team's current challenges.
The 49ers sit at 6-4 with seven games remaining. They missed an opportunity to gain ground in the NFC West after falling 42-26 to the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on Sunday.
Now, the team must regroup and push through its mounting injuries as it prepares for this weekend's matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
"But losing [DE Nick] Bosa, losing so many great players, it's just been a crazy season," Rice added.
Steve Young shares thoughts on Brock Purdy's return
While Rice reflected on the team's adversity, Steve Young offered his perspective on Brock Purdy's return to action. The 49ers quarterback is ramping up for a potential start this Sunday against the Cardinals, which would mark his first game since Week 4, when he aggravated a turf toe injury initially suffered in the season opener.
In Purdy's absence, Mac Jones has started eight games and impressed in Kyle Shanahan's offense, helping the 49ers stay competitive.
"I actually don't want to talk about the quarterbacks, and who should play, and who doesn't," Young said, "because I think it does a disservice to what Mac has done, which is quite remarkable and really respectable, and what Brock has done, which is amazing. And so, I just refuse to get into the mix of it."
Still, Young made it clear that if Purdy is healthy, he should be the 49ers' starter.
"If Brock is healthy—they've signed him to this big contract—he's gonna play," Young said. "But they've got to prove that he's gonna play. But I don't want to say, 'We can or can't do stuff whether one or the other's out there,' because I think it would be disrespectful to Mac and what he's done."
Young added that the 49ers are fortunate to have two capable quarterbacks—something few teams can say when their starter goes down.
"To me, it's Brock being able to aggressively practice, not swell, not feel sore, and get out and play some," Young explained. "And then, the great thing about it is, if he can't play—can you imagine how many teams are screwed if they don't have their starting quarterback? And we're still in the mix because of a guy that showed up four or five months ago. We're pretty lucky.
"I'm cheering for Brock to get 100% healthy and get back. I miss seeing him play. I miss his style. I miss his grit. I hope he can get back as soon as possible. But until he's full speed, I tip my cap to Mac—and let's go."
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