49ers eye training camp return for Brock Purdy after elbow surgery, GM John Lynch says

A viral photo surfaced over the weekend of Brock Purdy, with the 49ers quarterback wearing his boyish smile and a super-sized brace on his surgically repaired elbow.

Nothing unusual there.

Then came Monday’s surprising proclamation that Purdy’s road to recovery could see him participating in training camp, which begins in four months.

“Our hope is he’s ready to go for training camp,” general manager John Lynch told reporters at the NFL owners’ meetings in Phoenix.

“We’ll see how everything goes. We’re going to do what’s right for Brock, because that’s right for our organization,” Lynch added. “You know, be aggressive with what we do but also be really smart. We’re insulated with other guys we have a lot of belief in, so if Brock’s not ready, we’ll hold down the fort until he is.”

Purdy is the 49ers’ presumptive starting quarterback once he is healthy.

Lynch told reporters Monday that Purdy is expected to serve as this coming season’s starter, based on last season’s efforts.

“Brock has earned the right, with the way he played, that he’s probably the leader in the clubhouse at that,” Lynch added Monday. “I’ll let Kyle make those kind of decisions. But I know when we talk, Brock’s probably earned that right to be that guy, if we were to line up, he’d probably take that first snap.”

The only question is when Purdy’s right elbow will be healed enough to participate in practice and games.

Purdy is only 17 days removed from a career-saving procedure in which an internal brace repaired the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.

He’s not expected to resume throwing a football for three months. Full clearance is not expected until six months, which would extend his timeline into September, potentially aligning with the 49ers’ regular-season opener on Sept. 10 or 11.

Lynch, in an interview with this news organization last Wednesday at Stanford’s pro day, indicated that Purdy’s rehabilitation is just beginning in Arizona, where he’s being tended to by an arm-recovery specialist, along with occasional visits by the 49ers’ medical staff.

Coach Kyle Shanahan could expand on Purdy’s recovery and the 49ers’ expectations when he speaks with reporters Tuesday morning at the owners’ meetings.

Even if they hope Purdy can compete with Trey Lance and Sam Darnold by training camp, it would be surprising if the 49ers rush Purdy, who burst onto the NFL season as a rookie by winning seven games upon replacing Jimmy Garoppolo before ultimately getting hurt early in the NFC Championship Game loss at Philadelphia.

Purdy’s surgery was postponed from Feb. 22 to March 10, because of persistent swelling in his elbow. That is a telling example that the 49ers will take a cautious approach to his recovery, rather than fast-track him into a camp competition.

If Purdy does not begin throwing, as expected, until early June, that would come amid the 49ers’ organized team activities, with their mandatory minicamp set for June 13-15.

Will he throw on a side field? Will he be at the team’s Santa Clara facility or at a rehabilitation center in his native Arizona? Will he watch practices on the field and partake in meetings, unlike Garoppolo’s outcast-like treatment at last year’s training camp while he recovered from shoulder surgery?

“He’s doing a really good job. It’s early on,” Lynch added. “There’s not a whole lot that you’re doing, it’s a lot of the range of motion and whatnot. He’s right here (in Arizona) and we may see him tonight.

“As I understand it, around 12 weeks, we’ll know a lot more. That’s when he can start throwing,” Lynch said. “That’s when you really start to know a little more about timeline. All things are going really well. Brock’s going to work, do everything they ask and more.”

Hope aside, the anticipated road to recovery for Purdy has him throwing in some light fashion in June, July and August, with a chance to be fully cleared by the regular season.

Why are the 49ers so convinced about Purdy’s potential?

“Just the way he played, the way he processed, the way he led, it was very impressive,” Lynch said. “Yes, he’s done it for part of one year, but the way he did it, not just that he did it, the way he did it gave a lot of confidence to everybody in our building. There were things that surprised me. I had no idea he was that good of an athlete, the escapability. … He has left us all with a lot of confidence that he is a real guy.”

Meanwhile, Lance has the offseason program to try re-establishing himself as a No. 1 option, as he entered last season before breaking his right ankle in the Sept. 18 home opener.

“We’re really excited where Trey is at with his progress from his injury. He’s been working really hard,” Lynch added. ” And we love the opportunity to be able to bring in Sam Darnold and his skill set. We think it’s a really good fit. We like that room a lot.”

Purdy’s absence from the offseason program will afford Lance and Darnold “a lot of valuable experience” to take those snaps.

While Lynch saying that draft status does not factor into the depth chart, could Lance be on the trade market once Purdy is healthy?

“We like Trey on our team right now,” Lynch said. “We always joke, Kyle and I, we’d trade each other if someone gave us a good enough deal. So we listen to anything. But we like Trey on our team. We’re excited about the way he’s progressing and the opportunity. He’s champing at the bit to get out there and get back under center and be healthy again.”

Veteran tackle added

Offensive tackle Matt Pryor, a fifth-year veteran, is signing with the 49ers, Lynch told The Athletic. Pryor has started 24 of 60 games played in his career, which began as a 2018 sixth-round pick of the Eagles before they traded him in 2021 to the Indianapolis Colts.

Colton McKivitz is the favorite to take over at right tackle in place of Mike McGlinchey, who signed this month with the Denver Broncos. Pryor could compete for that role with McKivitz and Jaylon Moore. Pryor allowed six sacks and 31 pressures in 388 pass-blocking snaps last season, according to ProFootballFocus.com.

Aiyuk a keeper

In regards to exercising Brandon Aiyuk’s fifth-year option for 2024, Lynch said: “It probably makes sense to do that for Brandon. … He’s a guy we’re very fortunate to have and he’s just coming into his own. We’re excited about watching Brandon move forward with us.” The deadline to enact that option is May 1.

Bosa’s ‘going to get’ deal

Lynch did not indicate that Nick Bosa’s contract extension is imminent, saying: “We’re going to address his contract at some point. I know that it will take persistence, patience and all the things I’ve said before. He’s going to get everything he’s earned and deserved.”

Kicker deal

Friday’s trade for kicker Zane Gonzalez was described by Lynch merely as “a move,” preempting Gonzalez’s expected release from the Panthers. “We’re excited to get a talented kicker. We’ll see whether we add competition,” Lynch said. “He’s got a big leg he’s got a lot of talent and our guys are excited to work with him.”