49ers QB Brock Purdy, key receivers to miss game against Rams

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy badly wanted to play Thursday night against the Los Angeles Rams but his turf toe injury didn’t cooperate.

The 49ers star was ruled out of the contest on Wednesday and will be a spectator when San Francisco battles the Rams in a showdown at Inglewood, Calif.

Receivers Jauan Jennings (ankle), Ricky Pearsall (knee) and Jordan Watkins (calf) and defensive end Robert Beal Jr. (ankle) also were declared out for the 49ers after not practicing this week.

The NFC West rivals have 3-1 records as part of a three-way tie for first place with the Seattle Seahawks. Mac Jones will start at quarterback for San Francisco.

Purdy didn’t practice at all this week before the 49ers decided to hold him out.

This will mark Purdy’s third absence in four games due to the injury. He was initially hurt during a Week 1 contest against the Seattle Seahawks and aggravated the injury during last week’s 26-21 home loss against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Jones started in Weeks 2 and 3 when Purdy was sidelined. Jones injured a knee during Week 3 but is now healthy and was a full practice participant all week.

Jones is eager to take the field against the Rams’ defense.

“I think the way they play and their mindset,” Jones said of what impresses him. “There are always 11 guys on the screen and they have a great defensive line. They play a lot of defense schemes.

“It’s going to be a challenge. I’m impressed with them so I can’t wait to go against them.”

Purdy remained hopeful Tuesday but could see his hopes starting to slide.

“I don’t have as many days to get right and heal up and feel better,” Purdy said.

Jones will be short-handed in terms of receiving targets as star tight end George Kittle (hamstring) is on injured reserve and standout receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is still recovering from a serious knee injury sustained nearly 12 months ago.

The 49ers badly want to beat the Rams, who swept San Francisco last season and have won the past three meetings.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford isn’t concerned about the modest streak. He is more concerned about the fierce test the 49ers pose.

“I think they’re a really well-rounded football team, always have been,” Stafford said. “When we play them, it’s a bare-knuckles physical fight. They’re gonna try to run the ball right at you, play-action it over the top, and on defense, they’re gonna line up, know exactly what they’re in and just try to out-physical you. So it’s a big challenge for us, but a lot of credit to them because they’ve done a heck of a job with some injuries along the way early on.”

Stafford passed for a season-high 375 yards on Sunday in a 27-20 comeback victory over the visiting Indianapolis Colts.

Stafford tossed a tying 9-yard scoring pass to Puka Nacua with 3 minutes, 20 seconds to play, then connected with Tutu Atwell for an 88-yard touchdown catch with 1:33 left on the first play of the Rams’ next possession.

The touchdown was the first of the season for Nacua, who had 13 catches for a regular-season career-best 170 yards against the Colts. He leads the NFL with both 42 receptions and 503 receiving yards, which is 101 more receiving yards than second-place Seahawks wideout Jaxon Smith-Njigba.

“He’s consistent, you know he can get open,” Rams wideout Davante Adams said of Nacua. “He’s got a lot more tools than people realize. Great, great hands and strong at the catch point. And he’s obviously really tough to bring down once he’s running with the ball.”

Tight end Tyler Higbee (hip) and offensive lineman Rob Havenstein (ankle) are listed as doubtful for the Rams. Neither player practiced this week.