It looks like the San Francisco 49ers’ presumptive QB1 is on track to be a healthy QB1 to start the season, as Brock Purdy passed his physical and will not start training camp on the Physically-Unable-To-Perform (PUP) list.
“He’s cleared without restrictions,” said 49ers’ general manager John Lynch. “There will be some time off due to pitch count and all that, sticking to the plan. But the great news is Brock has worked his tail off and he’s ready to go.”
It was expected that Purdy would need six months to recover fully from surgery, but less than five months after the March 10 procedure, the second-year quarterback is good to. He won’t practice three days in a row, but head coach Kyle Shanahan expects Purdy to be practicing with zero limits sooner rather than later.
“I think everyone was fired up to hear that,” said running back Christian McCaffrey. “It’s a testament to him. He’s put in so much work.”
The sentiment was echoed by LB Fred Warner, who learned the news in his media session.
“I’m really not surprised,” Warner said. “I’ve seen the way that he’s been working…I know the makeup of how he is since the moment he’s gotten here. It only makes sense that he’s ahead of schedule.”
The 49ers seemed confident during the spring that Purdy would be ready for Week 1, but this news seems to be have defied even that.
“Dr. Keith Meister and everybody had always said, ‘We’re speaking of timelines. These are guidelines,'” Lynch said. “But there’s markers along the way. He’s continued to hit his markers…A whole lot of that is a testament to Brock and his work.”
The 49ers have their first training camp practice on Wednesday. Since he threw Monday and Tuesday, Purdy will not participate. Shanahan said that Trey Lance and Sam Darnold will split first-team reps as the battle for QB2 wages on.
