San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is making progress in his recovery from right elbow surgery, according to general manager John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan. Purdy, who underwent surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow on March 10, has been cleared to participate in practice when the team begins on-field work. However, the team will follow a cautious plan that includes a pitch count and rest days to ensure Purdy’s full recovery.
Lynch stated, “Brock is cleared and ready to go. Having said that, we’re sticking and we’re adhering to a plan that’s been put in place for some time.” This plan involves Purdy following a specific throwing schedule, with two days of throwing followed by one day off. Although Purdy threw in front of Shanahan, Lynch, and the medical team with an increased workload, he will not practice on Wednesday. Instead, he will participate on Thursday and Friday.
When Purdy does return, he will primarily work with the starting offense, as Shanahan has repeatedly stated throughout the offseason that Purdy would be the starting quarterback when healthy. However, the throwing plan will be adjusted to prevent Purdy from throwing for three consecutive days.
While the 49ers are pleased with Purdy’s progress, they are still working on securing a contract extension for defensive end Nick Bosa. Lynch and his staff have been negotiating with Bosa’s representatives, and until a deal is reached, Bosa is unlikely to report for training camp or participate in practice. Shanahan expressed that he would be surprised if Bosa practiced before signing a new contract.
The team hopes that Purdy’s ramp-up period will last for about two weeks before he can practice fully for three consecutive days. This timeline would allow Purdy to be fully cleared without any restrictions when the 49ers join the Raiders for joint practices in Las Vegas on August 10 and 11.
In the meantime, the 49ers will follow a plan similar to the offseason program for their other quarterbacks, Trey Lance and Sam Darnold. Lance and Darnold will alternate reps with the starting offense on days when Purdy is not practicing, while veteran Brandon Allen will also be included in the rotation. Shanahan aims to distribute the reps evenly among Lance and Darnold throughout camp, which may prove to be a challenging task.
As for Bosa, negotiations for his contract extension continue. Bosa is the reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year and had an impressive season in 2022 with 18.5 sacks. The 49ers are committed to working towards a deal that satisfies both parties. While there is no specific timeline for when Bosa is expected to sign, the team has a history of reaching big-money deals with star players around this time of year.
The 49ers have successfully secured extensions for players like George Kittle, Fred Warner, and Deebo Samuel in recent years. Although there is no official deadline to strike a deal, the team has some extra time before full-pads practices begin on Sunday.
Overall, the 49ers are optimistic about Purdy’s progress and are taking a cautious approach to ensure his full recovery. They are also actively working on securing a contract extension for Bosa. With Purdy’s return and Bosa’s eventual signing, the 49ers are looking forward to a successful training camp and a promising season ahead.