Kyle Shanahan says 49ers are 'optimistic' Brock Purdy will be ready for Week 1

Brock Purdy stepped up in a very memorable way for the San Francisco 49ers. As the franchise continued to burn through its quarterback depth, they eventually landed on Purdy, the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, over the final nine games of their season. He then helped carry them all the way to the NFC Championship.

However, in that matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, Purdy suffered an injury to the UCL in his throwing arm. That held him to just four throws in that pivotal game which San Francisco went on to lose.

Now, with OTAs underway across the NFL, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an update on when Purdy can make his return to the field. He said that he is still isn’t applying weight on the arm right now but that, as far as a timetable, the team is optimistic about the chance that he’s ready to go by Week One.

“We’re hoping for Week One and I feel pretty optimistic about that. That’s what we’re hoping for, that he’ll be ready to play in Week One,” Shanahan said. “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.”

Purdy himself said that his rehab is coming along well at the moment. He still has to start throwing again, which he’s planning on doing next week, but, for now, he maintained that the goal is for him to be back for Week One at Pittsburgh.

“I feel good, arm is feeling good,” said Purdy. “To say I’m going to be ready by this time or this time? We’re not trying to label any kind of timeline like that. For sure, though, that’s a goal.”

“You want to be ready for the season and if that’s the case? Great,” Purdy continued. “But we’re just taking it one day at a time. And we don’t want to say anything that we regret down the road or whatever.”

Purdy threw for 1,877 yards and 16 touchdowns on a 71.2% completion rate over his nine games as San Francisco’s QB1. In those games, he led them to eight straight wins before he was compromised in the NFC Championship against Philly.

Purdy managed the 49er’s talented roster down the stretch and nearly put them in the Super Bowl. That kind of run, however short it may have been, creates a lot of trust and, as San Francisco continues to await the return of Trey Lance as well, they’re hoping to get Purdy back as soon as possible so next season can start on the strong note that the last one ended on.