San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan has provided an update on Brock Purdy’s fitness.
The 49ers quarterback has been recovering from an elbow injury that he suffered last season in the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles. It was a game that also saw Josh Johnson brought in as his replacement, only for the veteran to suffer a concussion and need to exit the game.
Purdy was brought back into the game, due to the 49ers not having a third QB on their active gameday roster, but could not perform his usual role due to tearing his ulnar collateral ligament in the elbow of his throwing arm. Running back Christian McCaffrey was forced to step in to be a makeshift quarterback for the 49ers, as they lost 31-7 to the Eagles.
With Purdy undergoing surgery soon after the 49ers’ NFL season came to a close, the early months of the off-season has been focused on the QB building up his recovery. That’s also led to speculation over who could be the starting quarterback for the Week 1 opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers in September.
Trey Lance, who was the number six pick in the 2021 draft, has been working during the organised team activities (OTA) to stake a claim to get the nod should Purdy not be fit. The 49ers also signed Sam Darnold to add more experience to the QB locker room.
It seems, though, that Purdy is on track to be available for the start of the regular season. Shanahan has explained how Purdy’s work has been going in recent weeks, and that his quarterback is making progress to get back playing.
“He’s right on pace,” Shanahan told reporters on Tuesday “I think he throws three times a week. I do not sit and watch those. It’s part of his process of getting back and he’s continuing right on the track he’s always been on — no setbacks and it’s been very good so far.”
Shanahan was also asked by reporters if Purdy is taking part in certain elements of the 49ers training camp before being cleared by the medical team. “I haven’t asked any of those [questions] yet,” Shanahan answered
“We’re taking it very slowly. It’s not like you just jump out and push stuff. You’re only supposed to throw on this date, at this percentage, this many yards. And you do a certain [amount] a couple of days later. And if you stay on track, it should heal the right way. And right now, everything is right on track.
“So we don’t go any — I don’t ask three weeks ahead. You just keep trying to stay on that trajectory.”
