MINNEAPOLIS — After the 49ers’ 22-17 loss to the Minnesota Vikings on “Monday Night Football” at US Bank Stadium, quarterback Brock Purdy and linebacker Fred Warner shared a quiet conversation in the locker room.
Warner, showered and still wearing only his towels, sat at his locker, head in hands, pouring over stat sheets and looking at evidence of wrongdoing.
Purdy, after the media on stage, slowly walked back into the locker room to grab his suitcase, but then paused and moved to the linebacker’s side. For about 30 seconds, the two spoke without any cameras or members of the media listening.
Purdy opened the conversation with a look of obvious disappointment on his face after throwing two interceptions in the team’s loss. Then came Warner’s turn. The All-Pro linebacker’s voice didn’t grow loud enough to be heard, but Warner turned to his quarterback and spoke, looking into his eyes with an emotional and meaningful message.
“He’s obviously very hard on himself and he blames himself for that,” Warner told NBC Sports Bay Area regarding the conversation. “I’ll let him know, of course not. It’s not about him. I have full confidence in Brock and what he brings to this football team.
Warner is right. There were significant errors in all three phases of the game, including defense. Still, Purdy told NBC Sports Bay Area that he was grateful for the veteran’s words of support after a performance.
“He told me we all have to play better on both sides of the ball,” Purdy told NBC Sports Bay Area. “We’ll be fine. It’ll be fine.”
The 49ers have a short week before they host the Cincinnati Bengals at Lewis Stadium on Sunday, but one thing that will help the team overcome two straight losses will be the support the players give each other.
Instead of pointing fingers, the 49ers are taking full ownership of mistakes throughout the locker room, evidenced by the way Purdy and Warner support each other.
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