Brock Purdy's Cinderella season ends as 49ers fall in NFC Championship game

PHILADELPHIA – Brock Purdy's dream season with the San Francisco 49ers ended Sunday with a 31-7 loss to Philadelphia in the NFC Championship game.

Purdy, a former Iowa State star, was forced to return to the game with an injured right elbow after backup QB Josh Johnson was also hurt in the third quarter.

Purdy was drilled in the arm in the first quarter by Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick on a play that was ruled a fumble. The Eagles recovered and Purdy was examined on the sideline.

Purdy was replaced by Johnson, a journeyman QB who signed with the 49ers in December.

Johnson was hit on his throwing arm with the 49ers trailing 21-7 in the third. Johnson was evaluated for a concussion.

Purdy attempted just four passes Sunday, completing all of them for 23 yards (no touchdowns, no interceptions, one sack). Former Iowa tight end George Kittle had one catch for four yards for the 49ers.

Purdy made an improbable rise this season, going from the last player picked in the NFL draft to opening the season as San Francisco’s third-string QB. But injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo pressed Purdy into service.

Purdy was the third rookie quarterback ever to win two NFL playoff starts, the fifth to reach the conference title game as a starter and was trying to become the first to reach the Super Bowl.

For much of the season, the class of the NFC was not up for debate. The Eagles, out of the gates with an 8-0 start, clung to that distinction wire to wire. But even as they secured the No. 1 seed and won the NFC East, the question marks appeared. They finished the season with two losses in their final three games. Quarterback Jalen Hurts nursed an injured throwing shoulder, and All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson persevered through a groin injury.

On Sunday, the Eagles confirmed they were the conference's best team all along to advance to Super Bowl 57.

Philadelphia overmatched the No. 2-seeded Niners, the only team in the NFC with a better scoring differential than the Eagles, especially when Purdy exited on the team's first drive of the game with an elbow injury. Johnson, signed by the Niners – his seventh NFL team – once Purdy became the starter in December, was 7 of 13 for 74 yards. Purdy returned following the 36-year-old Johnson's removal because of a concussion, but the play calling indicated Purdy's arm was nowhere near full strength.

The Eagles defense presented Purdy with his toughest assignment of the season. He found that out almost immediately.

After two first downs, Reddick – the ringleader of the persistent Philadelphia pass rush – burst off the right edge and plowed into Purdy, who fumbled. The hit resulted in an elbow injury for the rookie looking to become the first-year quarterback to make the Super Bowl.

Reddick had his hand in another turnover late in the first half. Johnson, who struggled with the play clock, dropped the shotgun snap and failed to fall on top of the ball. From the bottom of the pile emerged Reddick with the ball, and the turnover set up the Scott touchdown.

Other than McCaffrey's touchdown, the Niners offense seldom threatened.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Brock Purdy's Cinderella journey ends as 49ers fall in NFC title game