The 49ers promise they have their answer at quarterback — injury concerns aside.
Despite breakout star Brock Purdy’s offseason Tommy John surgery following an elbow injury in the NFC Championship Game, the team is wholly confident in their young signal-caller, though they know he’s got a ways to go before he’s back to his best self.
“I don’t think anyone’s back to where they were, exactly, last season. We’re going through training camp, a lot of guys had more practices than him,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said Thursday.
“He’ll get there. He’s doing some good things. We’re not worried about Brock.
“Brock’s the real deal, he knows how to play and we just have to have our team keep getting better and we’ll keep getting better as we go.”
Shanahan continued to say that he’s not at all concerned about Purdy’s elbow.
“That’s completely off my mind,” he said. “I mean, he’s healed; he’s healthy. Guys have to get in throwing shape, and they have to play and stuff and get used to that. That takes time and stuff.
“But I’m not thinking about his injury anymore.”
San Francisco’s quarterback battle has been the subject of much debate after the team’s No. 3 overall pick in 2021 Trey Lance has fallen out of favor and the 49ers signed Sam Darnold this offseason.
But Shanahan’s quotes seem to make one thing clear: as long as Purdy, the last pick in the 2022 draft, is healthy, he will be the starter.
The former Mr. Irrelevant led the 49ers to the conference championship game after he started five games, tossed 1,374 yards and threw 13 touchdowns to just four interceptions in the regular season.
Purdy supplanted Jimmy Garropolo after he suffered an injury last December and won his first seven starts, which included two playoff games.
Lance held the starting role for just a game and a half after a season-ending ankle injury shuttered his campaign.
