San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy resumed throwing a regulation football during organized team activities (OTAs) last week in Santa Clara.
The resumption of throwing came less than three months after the 2022 seventh-round pick underwent elbow surgery on his throwing arm. It was an expedited timeline for return to activities after Purdy suffered the injury during January’s NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It also suggests that Purdy will be available for Week 1 against the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 10.
All of this comes after youngster Trey Lance took a majority of first-team reps in practice sessions over Sam Darnold. All signs are now pointing in the direction of Purdy being San Francisco’s Week 1 starter.
“Now, based on the optimistic reports in recent weeks from Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan, Purdy is the clear favorite to open the season as the 49ers’ starting quarterback,” Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area on Brock Purdy.
This shouldn’t necessarily come as too much of a surprise. If healthy, Purdy seemingly had the inside track for the starting job given how well he performed as a rookie last season.
Related: Ranking Brock Purdy and NFL’s 32 starting QBs
Brock Purdy stats (2022): 67.1% completion, 1,374 yards, 14 total TD, 4 INT
Once Purdy took over for an injured Jimmy Garoppolo during a Week 13 win over the Miami Dolphins, Mr. Irrelevant from last year’s draft didn’t look back.
He led San Francisco to five consecutive wins to end the regular season before defeating the Seattle Seahawks and Dallas Cowboys in the playoffs. The former Iowa State star was then injured in San Francisco’s first drive of the NFC Championship Game, which ended in a 31-7 loss to Philadelphia.
The 49ers’ brass has been pretty constant in its belief that Purdy would be the Week 1 starter if he were cleared in time.
“I think Brock has earned the right with the way he played that’s he’s probably the leader in the clubhouse. If we were to line up, he’d probably take that first snap.”
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch on QB situation
Now that Purdy should be fully ready to participate in practice weeks ahead of the 49ers’ regular-season opener, he’ll likely find himself as QB1 when things get going for real.