Fourth-string quarterback Josh Johnson was then put in the game, but Purdy quickly returned in the second half after Johnson was ruled out with a concussion.
GEORGE KITTLE HAS BLUNT TAKE ON 49ERS' QUARTERBACK WOES IN NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
With the Niners scrambling to figure things out, Kittle asked Purdy a priceless question.
"Brock, lefty?" Kittle asked. "Are you ambidextrous?’
A defeated Purdy simply shook his head "no."
Purdy suffered a torn UCL in his right elbow that could reportedly keep him sidelined for six months.
"The minute I started throwing literally like I knew something was wrong. I couldn’t throw," Purdy said. "So, obviously, the adrenaline and stuff I think helps in terms of allowing me to go back in the game and hand the ball off. Even that was pretty painful. But, just overall, it sucked that I wasn’t able to throw."
Purdy won all seven of his starts before Sunday’s loss. He finished the regular season with 1,374 passing yards and 13 touchdowns and threw only four interceptions.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.