49ers’ Kyle Shanahan Gives Promising Update on Brock Purdy

Getty Brock Purdy throwing the ball on July 27, 2023.

Brock Purdy wasn’t seen throwing the football on Sunday, July 30, at San Francisco 49ers practice.

But that’s not because Purdy reaggravated his injured elbow. 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said the team was taking precautions with its projected QB1 ahead of the 2023 season.

“I think he’s done great. He has come back. He’s had no arm troubles,” Shanahan told the Bay Area media on Sunday. “He’s been totally healthy. I think he’s getting all his timing back, his rhythm. I was really impressed with him in his two practices.”

Easing Brock Purdy Into Action Is Part of Plan

Having Purdy in street clothes at practice on Sunday was part of the training camp plan for the 49ers. Even though general manager John Lynch said on July 25 that Purdy was ready to go “without restrictions,” the team announced that the second-year passer would be a pitch count — limiting his throws to minimize the risk of injury.

In February, Purdy had surgery on his throwing arm’s ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) after sustaining an injury in the 49ers’ NFC Championship game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Keeping Purdy on a pitch count also gives the 49ers the luxury of watching quarterback Trey Lance, their first-round pick from 2021, attempt to return to form after his season-ending injury in Week 2 of 2022. It also lets them assess quarterback Sam Darnold as he adjusts to the offense after giving him a one-year deal.

Kyle Shanahan Discusses a Strength on Brock Purdy’s Side

It wasn’t the arm that guided the 49ers to the NFC title game behind the rookie Purdy, according to Shanahan.

It was his brain cells, he said, praising Purdy’s strength when it came to studying and absorbing the 49ers offense from a mental standpoint.

“Yeah, Brock’s just so detailed and committed in everything he does, so he didn’t miss one day,” Shanahan told reporters on Sunday.

Purdy is doing the same with attacking his elbow rehab.

“Every rep that he takes to get better in his health, he is just deliberate in everything he does. How committed he was to doing that, to being here, to going down to Florida, to being in Arizona. If he was going to have a setback and something went wrong was the only way we felt he wasn’t going to be ahead of schedule by what he does,” Shanahan said.

Will Purdy’s Throwing Load, Though, Increase?

Purdy is expected to throw the football in front of 49er fans for their Monday, July 31 practice.

While there will be fans who like the fact Purdy is being limited, Shanahan and the 49ers mentioned that he is going to eventually get an increased workload. Shanahan detailed that plan moving forward.

“He’s supposed to take to him two days off, so that’s why it’s perfect for him,” Shanahan said (h/t KNBR).

Another words: He got the off day. Now he’ll throw two days in a row.

“For a certain amount of days [he goes two on, two off], and then he flips one. I think we do that like six days from now. It’s a thought-out plan. I don’t have to memorize it because it’s all on paper,” Shanahan said.