Kyle Shanahan comments on first Brock Purdy session after injury speak volumes

31 July 2023 , 17:52

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Brock Purdy sustained a UCL injury in last year's playoffs but could be ready for Week 1. (Image: Getty Images)

San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said quarterback Brock Purdy has had "no arm troubles" as he returns from a UCL injury. The update puts Purdy on track to start Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Purdy sustained the injury in the NFC championship game and underwent offseason elbow surgery. San Francisco's leadership brass has stated that he will remain the team's first choice under centre if he fully recovers.

The second-year pro represents an incredible underdog story, having won the 49ers' starting job last year after they selected him last in the 2022 NFL Draft out of Iowa State.

"I think he's done great. He has come back. He's had no arm troubles," Shanahan said. "He's been totally healthy. I think he's getting all his timing back, his rhythm. I was really impressed with him in his two practices."

Quarterbacks Trey Lance and Sam Darnold are also at San Francisco's training camp. Shanahan would likely give Lance the nod to start if Purdy misses regular-season action, while Darnold was signed as a free agent to provide depth.

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Shanahan said Purdy is ahead of schedule in his rehab process, the Iowa State product impressing him with his everyday commitment to training. After working so hard to rise in the depth chart last season, Purdy is ready to do what it takes to hold on to his role.

"Yeah, Brock's just so detailed and committed in everything he does, so he didn't miss one day," Shanahan explained. "Every rep that he takes to get better in his health, he is just deliberate in everything he does. How committed he was to doing that, to being here, to going down to Florida, to being in Arizona.

"If he was going to have a setback and something went wrong was the only way we felt he wasn't going to be ahead of schedule by what he does."

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy has been recovering from an elbow injury he suffered last season (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)

After injuries sidelined Jimmy Garoppolo and Lance, Purdy threw 13 touchdowns to just four interceptions while posting a perfect 5-0 regular-season record as the starter in 2022. Purdy's playoff injury against the Philadelphia Eagles left the 49ers shorthanded at quarterback, contributing to their 31-7 loss. He's motivated to bounce back.

San Francisco have claimed from the beginning of the offseason that they would stick with Purdy despite trading up to take Lance at No. 3 in the 2021 NFL Draft. Partially because of his injuries, Lance has not had much opportunity to prove himself as a professional, and the 49ers are reportedly open to trading him this year.

"I think Brock has earned the right with the way he played that he's probably the leader in the clubhouse at that," general manager John Lynch told reporters in March. "I'll let [Shanahan] make those kinds of decisions, but I know when we talk, Brock has probably earned that right to be the guy. If we were to line up, he'd probably take that first snap."

Dan Bernstein