San Francisco QB Out 2-5 Weeks With Toe Injury: What Is Turf Toe And Why Is It Keeping Purdy On The Sidelines?

The hits just keep coming to the San Francisco 49ers, who just can’t seem to escape the injury bug. The team announced this morning that starting QB Brock Purdy is out for 2-5 weeks with a form of turf toe. At a glance, missing 2-5 weeks for a toe feels like an overreaction, but the reality of turf toe is more significant than it sounds.

Turf toe is a hyperextension injury that happens most often at the base of the big toe. The ligaments that support the underside of the toe get stretched when it bends too far back, like when pushing hard off the toes to run. Overstretching the ligaments under the big toe causes inflammation and pain with any direct pressure or toe extension. This means that every step is painful as the athlete tries to push off the toes. Even though it’s a small joint, the big toe is very important for acceleration, balance, and change of direction on the field.

It is important to note that the press release from San Francisco described Purdy’s injury as “a form of turf toe” suggesting Purdy’s injury is different than the typical turf toe. Other than the ligaments along the bottom of the toe, other structures that can be injured by big toe hyperextension or overuse are the tendons that run along the bottom of the foot and toe. These tendons connect muscles to bone and are responsible for developing the strength to push off. Issues like footwear, playing surface, or overuse can cause these tendons to become inflamed (tendinitis) and limit the amount of strength the athlete has when pushing off. While this form of tendinitis is not typically called turf toe, it is a possibility for what Purdy may be dealing with.

Whether it’s a ligament or tendon issue, the keys to managing these injuries are reducing the inflammation and regaining pain-free motion and strength. To do this, Purdy will need to avoid that position of overstretching the toe or pushing off. If all goes to plan, turf toe and big toe tendinitis can both resolve in a few weeks with no long-term repercussions for performance. For fantasy owners, this means Purdy’s production when he returns shouldn’t see a big drop from pre-injury levels. The downside is that if the inflammation in the toe continues after he returns, these injuries can turn into more chronic conditions that may last months.