Insider shares encouraging update on 49ers QB Brock Purdy

There's yet another sign that San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will be ready to play when the games begin to matter. 

"Purdy looked, well, not injured at the practice I attended," NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated noted for a piece published Tuesday afternoon. "There was one throw I saw him make flat-footed to the sideline to (dual-threat offensive weapon) Deebo Samuel, and with the pocket closed down around him, on which his elbow looked pretty healthy." 

Purdy, the final pick of last year's draft, became a 2022 rookie sensation but suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow during the NFC Championship game in late January. The 23-year-old underwent surgery on March 10 and was cleared to participate in practices at the start of training camp. 

Last week, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan insisted Purdy is "healed" and "healthy" coming off his setback. Per Nick Wagoner of ESPN, Shanahan said Monday that Purdy likely won't play in the team's preseason opener at the Las Vegas Raiders this coming Sunday but should serve as the club's QB1 in joint practices with the Raiders on Thursday and Friday. 

Breer indicated the days of Purdy being on a so-called "pitch count" should soon come to an end. 

"As for the deliberate ramp-up the Niners have conducted in bringing Purdy back, my sense is the Niners will be ready to let him let it rip next week," Breer explained. 

Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk mentioned that the 49ers listed Purdy as their starter on the depth chart they released Tuesday. Interestingly, the club declined to name a primary backup between 2021 first-round draft choice Trey Lance and free-agency signing Sam Darnold. 

While Lance and Darnold should see plenty of snaps against the Raiders, it's unclear if Purdy will play in the exhibition contest vs. the Denver Broncos on Aug. 19. 

San Francisco finishes the preseason with a home game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Aug. 25.