Brock Purdy is close to taking an important step in his recovery.
During Tuesday’s press conference, San Francisco 49ers head coach Shanahan said Purdy is “doing good” and could resume throwing next week. The quarterback underwent surgery on his right elbow in March.
Shanahan answered that “only God knows” when pressed for a timeline, but he still believes Purdy could be ready to start the 2023 season.
“We’re hoping for Week 1, and I feel pretty optimistic about that,” Shanahan said (h/t Nick Wagoner), adding that the 49ers currently “don’t have any reason to think otherwise.”
#49ere coach Kyle Shanahan says there’s no set timeline on Brock Purdy’s return yet but “We’re hoping for Week 1” and adds that they are optimistic he will be back before then to get ready for the opener and that they “don’t have any reason to think otherwise” right now
— Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) May 23, 2023
The procedure typically has a six-month recovery timeline, putting Purdy right on the edge of a September return. However, Shanahan noted Tuesday that the quarterback would likely need to be ready before Week 1 to meet that target.
Selected with the final pick of last year’s draft, Purdy posted a 107.3 quarterback rating in place of Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo last season. The 49ers were 7-0 in his starts, including two playoff wins, before the rookie got injured early in the NFC Championship Game.
Shanahan could turn to Lance or Sam Darnold if Purdy isn’t ready for San Francisco’s season-opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10.