49ers ‘not optimistic’ Brock Purdy can return in Week 3 vs. Cardinals

The 49ers are not getting their hopes up that Brock Purdy will return from a toe injury in the immediate future.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Sunday the team is “not optimistic” its starting quarterback will be under center for Week 3, an NFC West clash against the Cardinals at home, but kept the door ajar in the event his progress trends upward.

“We’ll see for next week,” a source told Schefter. “Next week will be tight, but he progressed a lot this week.”

Purdy, in the first year of a massive five-year, $265 million contract extension, sustained the toe injury in the 49ers’ season-opening win against the Seahawks last week.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Wednesday that Purdy — also grappling with a left shoulder injury — would be a “long shot” to play against the Saints, paving the way for former first-round pick Mac Jones to start Sunday in New Orleans.

The toe injury was described as “similar to turf toe, though not in the typical spot,” according to the 49ers, which noted Purdy could be sidelined for “multiple weeks.”

Although the 49ers are in the market to bolster their QB room in the wake of Purdy’s injuries, Shanahan has confidence in Jones.

“Mac’s been awesome,” the coach told reporters this week. “Our team really believes in him.”

The 15th overall pick by the Patriots in the 2021 NFL Draft, Jones showed promise in his rookie season by throwing 22 touchdowns and 13 interceptions, and earned a Pro Bowl nod.

The wheels came off in the years that followed, with Jones, 27, being benched throughout his final season in New England.

He spent the last season in Jacksonville as Trevor Lawrence’s understudy before agreeing to a two-year, $7 million deal with San Francisco in free agency.

Jones and the 49ers kick off against the Saints at 1 p.m. Sunday.