49ers' Brock Purdy reveals where he must improve after rookie season

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy became a rookie sensation this past season but already knows where he needs to improve once he can resume practicing. 

"Starting with the cons, just footwork," Purdy said during an appearance on Phoenix sports radio station Fox Sports 910, per Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area. "Being on time, every concept has its own timing. There were times last year where you could just tell I was still getting used to things, even when I was playing. The time of a slant with Brandon Aiyuk compared to Deebo Samuel, they’re two different types of routes. So getting used to that kind of thing, that’s something I have to hammer away at in the offseason." 

Purdy went from being the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft to San Francisco's QB1 when both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo were injured. The 23-year-old won all five of his regular-season starts and then guided the 49ers to a pair of postseason victories until he suffered a torn UCL in his right elbow during the NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

While Purdy is currently working to physically recover from surgery he had on March 10, he is also hoping to strengthen traits he needed while serving as the 49ers' emergency savior. 

"And then the pros, just building off the leadership and the courage that I had," Purdy continued during his comments. "Stepping out and going to lead a team, you have to have confidence in the NFL and you can see it in the film. I just have to keep building off that as well." 

In five starts and nine regular-season appearances, Purdy completed 114-of-170 passes (67.1%) for 1,374 yards with 13 touchdowns and just four interceptions. San Francisco general manager John Lynch has named Purdy "probably the leader in the clubhouse" to be the team's starter this fall, but there are fears the signal-caller may not be cleared to return to action until some point in November. 

Recently, the 49ers have been linked in rumors with Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and also Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers.