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Nick Wagoner, ESPN Employees Author
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — In line with San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, solely God is aware of for positive when quarterback Brock Purdy might be absolutely cleared to return to soccer.
However that did not cease Shanahan from providing his most optimistic Purdy replace but when he spoke to Bay Space media following Tuesday’s organized staff exercise.
“We’re hoping for Week 1 and we really feel fairly optimistic about that,” Shanahan stated. “That is what we’re hoping for… Often you have to come again earlier than that to make that purpose and that is type of the purpose we’re hoping for and haven’t any motive to suppose totally different.”
Purdy had the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his proper elbow repaired on March 10 after struggling the damage within the NFC Championship Recreation on Jan. 29. Preliminary estimates for a timeline have been between 5 and 7 months however the Niners have maintained all alongside that they’d have a greater thought for a return date as soon as Purdy begins a throwing program on the 12-week mark.
Purdy will hit 12 weeks on June 2 and is progressing towards that occuring. Shanahan stated Tuesday Purdy is anticipated to start a throwing program subsequent week.
For his half, Purdy nonetheless doesn’t need to put any onerous and quick deadline on a return however he echoed Shanahan’s optimism.
“Arm is feeling good,” Purdy stated. “To say I will be prepared by this time or this time, we’re not attempting to label any type of timeline like that. For positive, although, that is a purpose to need to be prepared for the season and if that is the case, nice. However like I stated, we’re simply staying sooner or later at time and do not need to say something that we remorse down the highway.”
Most of Purdy’s rehab thus far has been restricted to flexion and vary of movement workout routines in addition to plyometrics. His “throwing” has been restricted to a simulated movement utilizing a towel. As soon as he begins the throwing program, he’ll have the ability to begin working his manner towards throwing a full-sized NFL soccer once more from varied distances and at totally different effort ranges.
Purdy stated as soon as the Niners full the offseason program in mid-June, he expects to proceed his rehab and throwing program in Jacksonville, Fla. together with his private quarterback coaches.
Regardless of an offseason vote of confidence from basic supervisor John Lynch through which Lynch known as Purdy the “chief within the clubhouse” to be the staff’s starter in 2023, Purdy is not getting forward of himself as he continues to get better from surgical procedure.
“I simply attempt to concentrate on the place I am at proper now,” Purdy stated. “For me, it is getting my arm wholesome. To say all these items and say you need to be this type of man or that type of man for the staff, I believe that is simply in a way silly to suppose like that… I am not attempting to get caught up in rumors and what folks have been saying or something like that, however the truth that he would say that, yeah, for positive I am appreciative.”
Purdy wasn’t the one 49ers quarterback who spent the offseason attempting to keep away from rumors and hypothesis. Trey Lance, the No. 3 total decide within the 2021 NFL draft, has been working his manner again from a damaged proper ankle and trying to get his throwing mechanics again to established order after coping with the fallout of a damaged proper index finger he suffered early in his rookie yr.
With Purdy’s ascent to the beginning job, Lance’s title got here up in commerce conversations Lynch had with different groups within the offseason. Lynch stated he didn’t provoke these discussions and has acknowledged it could have taken one thing substantial for the 49ers to commerce Lance, particularly given the staff’s prolonged historical past of accidents on the place.
Even after San Francisco signed veteran Sam Darnold to a one-year deal early in free company, Lance stated he by no means thought-about asking for a brand new alternative elsewhere.
“I knew the place I needed to be,” Lance stated. “Even going again, like I stated final yr, I simply need a chance to compete. For me. I like it right here. I really like the teaching workers, love the quarterback room, love the blokes within the locker room. Little question for me, that is completely the place I need to be.”
Whereas Purdy continues on the highway to restoration, the Niners opened OTAs this week with Lance getting the primary snaps throughout seven-on-seven drills with Darnold coming in behind him. However as Shanahan was fast to level out, these drills will not be the identical as staff drills and he intends for these reps to even out because the offseason program chugs alongside.
Till Purdy is cleared, the Niners quarterback scenario figures to stay cloudy however there’s loads of time for Lance and Darnold to make an impression within the coming days, weeks and months.
“I believe competitors’s nice for everybody,” Darnold stated. “Clearly, we have got some competitors within the quarterback room… It is at all times nice to have the ability to go on the market and compete and we’ll do this.”