49ers believe QB will return in 6 months

49ers general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan provided an update on injured quarterback Brock Purdy during their season-ending press conference on Wednesday.

Initial reports indicated that Purdy would likely require surgery and return to action within six months of this procedure. While another scenario is on the table where Purdy would need 9-12 months to recover, Lynch was optimistic about the six-month timeline.

“I think the good news is that it seems consistent that the right approach is one that takes about six months,” Lynch said. “Now everyone will also say you never know until you get in there. Every surgeon will tell you that with every operation you always like to come in to see exactly. The MRI tells you a lot of pictures, so they’re still working through that process, but we seem encouraged by the prognosis that it’s sort of where it’s at.

It was questioned what exactly Purdy would be able to do after six months, but Shanahan later confirmed the QB would fully participate in training once he returns.

“It was the coolest thing for me to hear that after the three months are up, they start rehabilitation by slowly rebuilding the arm, and in six months it’s rebuilt,” Shanahan said. “And that’s when I started asking questions, does that mean calming him down?” When you think of the ACLs and they said, no, the buildups were three to six months and at six months he’s the same guy and all the way in, so that’s the most encouraging part I’ve heard .

Purdy is expected to be the team’s starting QB in 2023, but his absence during the offseason program and the first training camp could give Trey Lance an opportunity to climb to the top of the depth chart. As the 49ers watch for any potential starting QB battle, they can do so knowing they’ll have a full version of Purdy once he’s back in action.

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