49ers' Brock Purdy reaches next step in recovery from elbow injury

The Brock Purdy recovery continues. The 49ers quarterback now is working with a personal coach on the other side of the country from San Francisco.

NFL.com reported this week that Purdy now is in Jacksonville, Fla., to work with quarterback coach Will Hewlett and orthopedic specialist Tom Gormely. It’s all part of Brock Purdy’s recovery process as he works back from an elbow injury he suffered in the NFC title game.

And chances are, Purdy’s elbow will be one of the most watched joints of the summer. His elbow will have to share some attention with Kyler Murray’s knee.

Purdy was one of the best stories of 2022. He was Mr. Irrelevant, aka the last player selected, in the 2022 NFL Draft. Although Purdy started for Iowa State for four years and helped turn the program around, scouts couldn’t decide if he should be a late pick or an undrafted free agent.

Coach Kyle Shanahan selected Purdy and probably didn’t realize how much the 49ers would need him that season. But San Francisco suffered a collapse at the quarterback position. Trey Lance, the first teamer, broke his ankle in the second game of the season. Jimmy Garoppolo took over and stayed healthy through November. Then Purdy was forced into the starting lineup when Garoppolo suffered a season-ending foot injury. Purdy won seven straight games, including two in the playoffs.

However, on the first 49ers drive on the road against Philadelphia, Purdy tore a tendon in his right elbow. And to continue the San Fran injury woes at quarterback, Josh Johnson, Purdy’s replacement, suffered a concussion in the second quarter. Purdy returned to the game, but couldn’t do anything more effective than handing off the ball.

He tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. It’s an injury more commonly found among baseball pitchers. Brock Purdy’s recovery was delayed when he had to wait almost six weeks to even have the surgery. That’s how long it took for the swelling to go down enough for the medical procedure. A specialist decided Purdy didn’t need Tommy John surgery, which would’ve jeopardized his 2023 season.

Purdy started throwing in May. 49ers coaches are feeling optimistic. They signed former first-rounder Sam Darnold to replace Garoppolo, who signed with the Raiders. Plus, Lance is healthy again. Brock Purdy will be the starter, unless his recovery goes awry between now and the start of the season.

“We’re hoping for Week 1 and I feel pretty optimistic about that,” coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters last month. “That’s what we’re hoping for, that he’ll be ready to play in Week one and usually that doesn’t mean that’s the day he comes back. Usually, you have to come before that to make that goal and that’s kind of the goal we’re hoping for and I don’t have any reason to think differently.”