Brock Purdy did not hide his frustration during a crucial moment in the game.
The 49ers quarterback was captured by the Fox broadcast during Saturday’s divisional-round playoff game against the Packers yelling, “What are you doing?!” to wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud after an incomplete pass on third-and-10 at the Green Bay 40-yard line early in the fourth quarter, while San Francisco trailed by four.
Purdy and McCloud then argued on the sideline after the 49ers were forced to punt.
A late touchdown gave the 49ers a 24-21 win and they’ll host the Lions in the NFC Championship game on Sunday, but Purdy was asked about the exchange Wednesday.
“I’m just going through my progressions, you know,” Purdy told reporters. “And from where I’m at, with the pocket closing and stuff, I’m expecting him to be where he’s supposed to be with the route that we had called on. The [Packers] corner actually slipped that was guarding him, so he was trying to be smart and throw up his hand and run to space, which I get.
“In the moment, I was like, ‘Man, you just got to be where you got to be, where I’m expecting you to be.’ But I totally understand what you’re doing. If a guy falls there’s a big play to be made out there. So, we had talked about it and we ended up on good terms, and moving forward we know what to expect out of each other and stuff, and when we’re in that moment again.
“It’s just communication. We’re competitors. In the heat of battle, things like that happen. We needed that in that moment in the game, that third down. So I had a little frustration come out and stuff, but it’s nothing but love. I totally trust and respect Ray-Ray and what he’s done and we’re going to get better from it.”
McCloud, a returner whom the Niners signed in 2022 after he spent two seasons with the Steelers, caught his only other target in the game, a seven-yard completion; he had 12 catches for 135 yards during the regular season.
Purdy struggled throughout the game until he engineered a 12-play, 69-yard drive that culminated with a six-yard Christian McCaffrey rushing touchdown with 1:07 remaining.
