Javon Hargrave, a newly acquired defensive tackle for the San Francisco 49ers, recently claimed that Brock Purdy’s injury greatly affected the outcome of the NFC Championship Game. Although Hargrave was playing for the Philadelphia Eagles at the time, he believes that if Purdy had stayed healthy, the game would have played out very differently.
In the NFC Championship Game, the 49ers lost 31-7 to the Eagles, and Brock Purdy‘s elbow injury played a significant role in the defeat. According to Hargrave, the 49ers would have had a better chance of winning the game if Purdy had remained healthy. The team was forced to run the ball more frequently after Purdy’s injury, making it easier for the Eagles’ defense to anticipate their strategy and score more points.
New #49ers DT and former Eagle Javon Hargrave: NFC Championship “would have been a different game,” if Brock Purdy didn't get injured.
🧐🧐🧐 pic.twitter.com/fkV4uUZ1qR
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) March 20, 2023
Hargrave’s Beliefs About the Game
Hargrave believes that Brock Purdy’s injury had a significant impact on the game’s outcome. In an interview with KNBR, he said, “Of course, it made it a lot easier for us…Trust me, we’ve seen the film on Brock escaping.
We knew it was going to be a challenge trying to get to him, so it would have been, definitely, a different game if he had stayed up.” Hargrave’s comments suggest that he and the Eagles defense were well aware of Purdy’s ability to escape, and his injury made it easier for them to take control of the game.
The Future for Brock Purdy and the 49ers
Brock Purdy’s future with the 49ers remains unclear, as it’s unknown when he’ll be healthy enough to return to action. However, the 49ers are optimistic with Hargrave’s addition to the team will help them make another deep playoff run regardless of who is under center. While Hargrave’s comments might be seen as an excuse for the Eagles’ victory, they do highlight the importance of having a healthy starting quarterback during important games.
Javon Hargrave’s comments regarding the impact of Brock Purdy’s injury on the NFC Championship Game have raised eyebrows, as they suggest that the 49ers would have won the game had Purdy remained healthy.
While Hargrave’s claims may seem like an excuse for the Eagles’ victory, they do highlight the importance of a starting quarterback’s health in critical games. As the 49ers prepare for the upcoming season, they’ll be hoping that whoever takes the field will be healthy enough to lead them to victory.
