Last year, Brock Purdy led the San Francisco 49ers to the NFC Championship Game despite being the league’s first Mr. Irrelevent to throw a touchdown pass. However, against the Eagles in the conference championship game, Purdy tore his ulnar collateral ligament (UCL), therefore ending his season and the 49ers’.
How does Purdy feel now, after six months have passed since his injury? What are the Niners’ other alternatives if Purdy is unable to play due to his elbow injury, and how may his absence affect their chances of making the Super Bowl?
What Type Of Injury Does Purdy Get?
In last year’s NFC Championship Game against the Eagles, Purdy suffered a torn UCL in the elbow of his throwing arm in the first quarter. Most commonly, the UCL tears slowly over time, especially in people who repeatedly throw with an overhand motion. However, there are situations when it happens suddenly.
Take a look at below tweet about Brock Purdy injury:
Brock Purdy reportedly suffered a torn UCL in his throwing elbow yesterday and is expected to miss six months.
This puts him at a return point right around August.
Purdy still came in and threw the ball twice even after this injury.
The definition of a WARRIOR 😳 pic.twitter.com/hKuEnd7iVA
— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) January 30, 2023
Recovery was expected to take at least six months when first diagnosed. It’s inevitable that there will be bumps in the road. In fact, new research reveals that there is a substantially increased risk that one damaged UCL would lead to another. Purdy may still have success in the NFL despite this early career setback, but he has a greater-than-average risk of further injury.
You can also read about other celebrities’ injury details:
- Brandon Tanev Injury Update: What Happened to Him During Game?
- Cooper Kupp Injury: What Effect Will It Have On NFL?
Update on Brock Purdy’s Past Injuries
On July 25, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said that Purdy is “without restriction” and ready to participate in training camp. For as long as he can stay on the field, Purdy will be San Francisco’s starting quarterback, as stated by Shanahan.
In order to keep Purdy on his recommended throwing schedule, he may skip some practices during training camp. The 49ers, despite this, decided to put him back into game action. Sam Darnold and Trey Lance will take care of repetitions on Day 1, while he will have to wait until Day 2 of camp before he is allowed to throw.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, following the 49ers’ minicamp earlier this summer, Purdy traveled to Jacksonville to train with QB coach Will Hewlett and orthopedic expert Tom Gormley. Hewlett assisted Purdy at his 2022 pre-draft visit, and Gormley worked with Purdy to improve his throwing motion with the use of specialized programs.
Check out the below tweet:
Randy Gregory has had a big effect on 49ers’ history:
-As a Cowboy, his sack injured Garoppolo’s shoulder in ‘21 playoffs
-That shoulder injury led to a surgery that prevented a trade
-That led to Garoppolo re-signing
-That built an ideal bridge from Trey Lance to Brock Purdy https://t.co/VxHkFRVMXl
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) October 4, 2023
“As I start to throw more, I just want to make sure my mechanics and everything is right,” Purdy stated back in May. That being the case, spend a couple of weeks working alongside them and then report back.
On March 10th, Purdy had surgery to fix an internal brace to his torn UCL. John Lynch, the general manager of the 49ers, had hoped that by early June, 12 weeks after Purdy’s surgery, the quarterback would be ready to throw again.
What Should the 49ers Do If Purdy Is Unavailable?
Purdy has shown no signs of needing to start the season on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and so missing the first four games of the season. If Purdy is hurt, the 49ers will have to decide between Lance and Darnold to be their starting quarterback in the meantime.
San Francisco traded three first-round picks to get Lance two years ago, and he started the 2022 season as the starter for the 49ers. Lance’s future in San Francisco was in jeopardy after he suffered an ankle injury in Week 2. Even though Lance’s name came up in trade rumors multiple times this spring, he is still active with the 49ers.
Darnold was signed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract by San Francisco this offseason, and if Purdy isn’t ready, he has a good shot at starting. Midway through June, Adam Schefter of ESPN indicated that Darnold likely “has the edge” to be the 49ers’ No. 2 quarterback this season on The Pat McAfee show.
Perhaps Shanahan thinks that by doing this, he can inspire Lance. Perhaps the veteran coach thinks Darnold, who is still only 25 years old, will finally reach his potential with an offense that features one of the best running back units and one of the best-receiving groups in the NFC.
In all likelihood, the 49ers will be fine even without Purdy for the time being. San Francisco possesses the best offensive mind in the NFL in Shanahan and one of the best collections of offensive skill position personnel in the NFL. They also have an above-average offensive line.
While Jimmy Garoppolo is long gone, the team still has a few months to see if Lance can be an effective offensive leader or if Sam Darnold can thrive in the best offensive scheme of his career. The answer to this question is “none of the above,” and if Purdy is prepared, then the San Francisco 49ers will know exactly what to anticipate from their most unlikely hero in the 2022 season.
We hope for Brock Purdy speedy recovery and we wish him well. You can also share us your views on this in the comment section below. You can also join us on our Twitter account to know more details.