49ers give potential timeline for Brock Purdy's return
The San Francisco 49ers find themselves in familiar territory as they head into the NFL's annual league meetings: it's another year in which they don't have a permanent solution at the quarterback position. The 2023 version of the 49ers' QB race is an interesting one. The top-2 candidates and heavy favorites to win the job, […]
The San Francisco 49ers find themselves in familiar territory as they head into the NFL's annual league meetings: it's another year in which they don't have a permanent solution at the quarterback position.
The 2023 version of the 49ers' QB race is an interesting one. The top-2 candidates and heavy favorites to win the job, Brock Purdy and Trey Lance, are both coming off injuries that required surgery. The third candidate, Sam Darnold, is a former top-3 draft pick that has all the tools to be a starter in the NFL, but has never put it all together. Still, he's never had a good coaching staff, so it'll be interesting to see if Kyle Shanahan and co. can finally fully tap into his potential.
When it comes to Lance's injury, he should be good to go by the time the 49ers start their offseason program in mid-April. Purdy's timeline, on the other hand, is a lot murkier, at best.
Purdy had successful surgery on March 10. The team's website reported he was expected to begin a throwing progression program after the three months that followed the surgery, which put the start date at June 10, if we're being exact. Meaning, Purdy wouldn't full participate, if participate at all, in any of the 49ers offseason program.
The next target date would obviously be training camp, at that point. According to 49ers general manager John Lynch, the 49ers are hopeful Purdy will be ready to go by then.
That's great news for all involved if that's the case. Even Lance and Darnold. I hate to be cliche, but we all know how iron sharpens iron. Having all three players ready to go gives the 49ers the best shot at a proper evaluation and therefore, puts them in the best possible position to win a Lombardi.
