Sports

Brock Purdy remains full participant Thursday

The 49ers' practice report had only two changes from Thursday: Running back Christian McCaffrey and left tackle Trent Williams, who had a load management day on Wednesday, were full participants.

Otherwise, it was status quo.

Quarterback Brock Purdy had another full practice, the fourth consecutive full practice for Purdy.

He returned from a toe injury Sunday after a six-game absence to throw for 200 yards and three touchdowns in the win over the Cardinals.

The 49ers practiced without defensive end Robert Beal (concussion), linebacker Tatum Bethune (ankle) and kicker Eddy Pineiro (right hamstring).

Linebacker Luke Gifford (hip/neck) was limited.

Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee) and linebacker Dee Winters (knee/knee) were full participants.

Will Anderson covered 51.7 yards for one of his sacks of Josh Allen

Texans edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. had the game of his life on Thursday night. He had six tackles, 2.5 sacks for 31.5 yards, three quarterback hits and a pass defensed that nearly was an interception.

The AFC defensive player of the week honor likely is already won, although Texans safety Calen Bullock should receive consideration for the three takeaways he had in the 23-19 win over the Bills. (It's also likely another week that Browns edge rusher Myles Garrett doesn't win the award no matter how many sacks he has. Garrett, arguably the league's best defensive player, has not won the award since Week 12 of the 2024 season.)

On one of his sacks of Josh Allen, Anderson traveled 51.7 yards chasing the Bills quarterback, per Next Gen Stats. That is the longest distance traveled for a sack since Week 2 of 2023 and is higher than any other Texans defender in the past 10 years.

Allen lost 18 yards on the play, as Anderson nearly sacked him at the beginning of the play before Allen spun out of it. Anderson got up and chased Allen left and then back right before finally tackling him.

"That just goes back to the relentless rush," Anderson said, via video from Aaron Wilson of KPRC. "I think coach really hit it on the head this week. It's like, 'Man, whatever it takes to get him down. You're going to miss him once, but pop back up and get him again.' It's just crazy. . . . [Our goal was to] just be relentless in everything we do this week."

NFL referee Adrian Hill reportedly avoids major injury after being helped off field on Thursday Night Football

NFL referee Adrian Hill reportedly avoided major injury and his Achilles tendon is intact after getting hurt during Thursday Night Football's Houston Texans-Buffalo Bills game, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. He may be able to return this season, per multiple reports.

Hill was seen running in the end zone in the third quarter while the Bills were in scoring position before noticeably hurting his left leg after planting on the ground. He began limping before eventually being carried off by two members of the Texans staff, not putting any weight on his leg. Hill left the game on a cart and was taken to the locker room.

Roy Ellison, who had previously served as the umpire in the game, transitioned to referee in Hill's place. The rest of the game was played without an umpire, as the NFL only has backup officials available in the postseason.

The umpire's primary responsibility is to watch their side of the offensive line and help with hits on the quarterback from the side they are on. After Hill's injury, Ellison had to watch the entire offensive line by himself.

Hill has been an NFL official since 2010 and also boasts a career as an aerospace engineer.

The Texans went on to beat the Bills in Thursday night's game, 23-19. The Texans are 6-5 and the Bills are 7-4.

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