PITTSBURGH — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy waited six months to the day to return from his offseason elbow surgical procedure. It took all of 5½ minutes for him to throw his first landing cross.
After the Niners’ protection obtained a three-and-out on the opening possession, the Niners rapidly marched to Pittsburgh’s 8. On first-and-goal, Purdy dropped again, scanned the sector and located wideout Brandon Aiyuk broad open in the long run zone for an 8-yard landing. The additional level made it 7-0 Niners with 9:29 left within the first quarter.
Purdy to Aiyuk! First TD on this Sunday
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A fired-up Purdy bolted towards San Francisco’s sideline, pounding his chest and letting out a guttural scream. He was 3-of-3 for 25 yards and a rating on the opening drive.
It was the primary time since 2014 that the 49ers scored a landing on their opening drive of the primary recreation of the common season and the nineteenth profession landing catch for Aiyuk, tied for many on the staff in that span.
Brock Purdy & Brandon Aiyuk (8-yd TD)
On an in-breaking route, Aiyuk discovered a gap in opposition to the Steelers Cowl 4 protection (4.1 yards of separation when the cross was thrown, 2.9 yards when the cross arrived).
The 49ers offense featured two-back units on 4 of seven performs on their… pic.twitter.com/qm0wvW2a3l
— Subsequent Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 10, 2023
Aiyuk and Purdy linked once more with 13:30 left within the second quarter as Purdy floated a cross down the proper sideline to the entrance nook of the top zone. Aiyuk leaped over cornerback Patrick Peterson, pulled it in and obtained two toes down for the rating. The additional level put San Francisco up 17-0.
AIYUUUUUUUUUUUK AGAIN.
📺: #SFvsPIT on FOX
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