More than a week after suffering a torn ulnar collateral ligament in the NFC Championship Game, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is reportedly nearing a decision on surgery.
Purdy suffered the injury against the Philadelphia Eagles on a strip sack by edge rusher Haason Reddick. While he returned to the game in the second half following Josh Johnson’s concussion, he physically couldn’t throw the ball more than five yards and attempted just one pass.
- Brock Purdy stats: 107.3 QB rating, 67.1% completion rate, 13-4 TD-INT
The injury and the retirement of Tom Brady raised questions regarding the 49ers’ quarterback situation. While there is still plenty of uncertainty under center, San Francisco will reportedly soon gain some clarity on its situation.
According to NBC Sports’ Matt Maiocco, Purdy and the 49ers are nearing a finalization of his plans for surgery. The expectation is he will undergo a procedure that creates an internal brace in his right elbow, speeding up the healing process as opposed to the more serious surgery.
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It would be a significant outcome for both Purdy and the organization. If doctors recommended he undergo Tommy John surgery, the more extensive procedure, Purdy would miss the entire 2023 NFL season and San Francisco would be forced to start Trey Lance or pursue a veteran quarterback.
Latest Brock Purdy injury news, impact on San Francisco 49ers’ QB plans
After receiving second opinions on his elbow, though, Purdy is headed for surgery with a faster recovery. As a result, he could return in six months and that puts him tentatively on track for Week 1 barring any setbacks.
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According to Maiocco, the specific procedure would involve the UCL being repaired with a collagen-coated suture tape. It requires three months of recovery time followed by three months of Purdy rebuilding the arm to return to football.
- Trey Lance career stats: 84.5 QB rating, 5-3 TD-INT, 54.9% completion rate on 102 attempts
There are still risks for setbacks or a return date being pushed back, but San Francisco hopes Purdy could return to the practice field in August. Given his status and the questions surrounding Lance, the 49ers will likely pursue a veteran quarterback in free agency who could function as a fill-in starter for a team that often needs reliable backups.
