49ers HC Kyle Shanahan provides surprising Brock Purdy update

That's a major upgrade from last month when Purdy said he wasn't sure if he would play at all in 2023. He had Tommy John surgery earlier this year after tearing his UCL in his throwing elbow in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 29. At the time of his surgery, renowned orthopedic surgeon Mark Adickens said Purdy should anticipate a year-long rehabilitation process. 

When discussing his QB's status for Week 1, Shanahan also announced that Purdy will throw for the first time since having surgery beginning next week. 

The second-year QB will try to pick up where he ended last season. Purdy went 5-0 in the regular season and won two postseason games before being knocked out in the first quarter of the NFC title game.

He was 114-of-170 (67.1 percent) for 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns and four interceptions last season. He was surprisingly efficient as a rookie seventh-round pick, finishing six in expected points added (EPA) among QBs at 0.196. (h/t rbsdm.com)

Purdy is the safest bet in San Francisco at QB. Trey Lance is still unproven and Sam Darnold is little more than a journeyman quarterback at this point of his career.

The 49ers have one of the best rosters in football but having Purdy healthy will be crucial to the team winning its first Super Bowl of the Shanahan era after many close calls. The team lost Super Bowl LIV to Kansas City and then appeared in the NFC Championship Game the past two seasons, losing both times.

Purdy's rapid recovery is a welcome development for a franchise that's had terrible luck in regard to QB health since Shanahan took over in 2017. During the past five seasons, the 49ers have started six quarterbacks, with only Jimmy Garoppolo (38-17) and Purdy (5-0) posting winning records.