Sam Darnold finds himself in dire need of a victory.
As the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers, Brock Purdy, has entered concussion protocol on a Wednesday, it paves the way for Sam Darnold, the former third-overall pick, to step into the spotlight. Darnold is poised to receive first-team practice reps and could potentially start in place of Purdy for Sunday’s game. This development was reported by Adam Schefter via Twitter.
Notably, Darnold’s contract is heavily incentive-based, offering him a substantial financial opportunity if he takes the field and secures a win. If he manages to play for more than 25% of the snaps and leads the 49ers to victory against the Cincinnati Bengals, he stands to pocket a handsome sum of $300,000.
Coach Shanahan and the 49ers initially brought Darnold on board to compete for the backup role, where he outperformed fellow third-overall pick Trey Lance. Now, with Lance currently with the Dallas Cowboys and Purdy potentially sidelined for Week 8, Darnold has a golden opportunity to take the starting position against the Bengals.
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Given the likelihood of a run-heavy, short-pass approach with Darnold at the helm, his presence may offer a range of potential outcomes, making him a possible emergency starting option in fantasy football for the upcoming weekend.
The extent of Darnold’s motivation, especially the financial incentive, will become evident should he indeed secure the starting role.
