Brock Purdy handed injury setback but 49ers star still on course for 2023 return

22 February 2023 , 14:16

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Brock Purdy hopes to be ready for the 2023 season

San Francisco 49ers star Brock Purdy will postpone his upcoming elbow surgery but is still set to be on track to make week one of the 2023 season.

According to NFL insider Tom Pelissero, Purdy visited Dr. Keith Meister on Tuesday, who recommended that the quarterback delay his surgery due to ongoing inflammation. However, it's still expected that his UCL repair will see him return for the start of next season, as he battles Trey Lance for the quarterback spot.

Doctors want Purdy to have a range of motion before conducting surgery, which can only be achieved when inflammation is gone. Delaying the surgery shouldn't affect his recovery too much, meaning a 2023 return is still expected for the young quarterback.

The 2022 season was a wild one for Purdy, as he was picked dead last in the NFL draft, and didn't expect to make an appearance for the 49ers. But, after Lance was ruled out in week two, Jimmy Garoppolo took his place, and suddenly Purdy moved up the pecking order.

Then, in week 13, it was Garoppolo that suffered an injury, and Purdy stepped up in his rookie season to fill in. But he didn't just fill in, he starred in his new role and led them all the way to the NFC Championship.

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Purdy couldn't be stopped, and won every game as a starter until the Championship game - when it was his turn to feel the force of injury. The 49ers never really had a chance in the Championship game, as Purdy injured his elbow inside the first quarter.

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Purdy injured his elbow against the Philadelphia Eagles (Seth Wenig/AP/REX/Shutterstock)

Josh Johnson came in a fourth string, but Purdy had no choice but to return after even his back-up suffered a concussion. Without a quarterback that could throw, and with the Philadelphia Eagles blocking the run game, the 49ers never stood a chance.

But it was still a fairy-tale journey for the 49ers and for Purdy, with many writing the rookie off once Garoppolo went down injured. The very last pick of the draft went from being 'Mr Irrelevant' to one of the most talked about players in the NFL.

It's set him up for a more colourful career too, as he was able to put his talents on show in big postseason games. It's now a battle between Purdy and Lance for the new season, but it's not a bad problem for the 49ers to have.

Joseph McBride