Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
The San Francisco 49ers remain hopeful that offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey (knee) and Daniel Brunskill (hamstring) will be ready for Week 1 when the team faces the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field. McGlinchey returned to practice this week. As for Brunskill, general manager John Lynch says the 49ers remain optimistic.
"We're hopeful that we have him for Week 1," Lynch said Thursday. "You just never know with [hamstring injuries]."
Getting Brunskill back would be good news for what is considered to be one of the 49ers' weakest areas—the interior of the offensive line. The team claimed guard Blake Hance of waivers because of his versatility, hoping that he could help if Brunskill isn't ready.
"He brings real five-position versatility," Lynch said. "Sometimes we talk about versatility, but he's actually done it in our league, played five positions, and has that center versatility, which is so important. We put a claim in, not knowing if we'd get him, and we were pleased when we did."
Hance arrived at his Santa Clara hotel at 1:30 a.m. and was at the facility early, ready to learn the offense.
"He has played left tackle," Lynch added. "He has played right tackle. He's played both guards. So we're excited about that. Those guys are extremely useful.
Lynch also discussed the team's sixth-round pick, offensive lineman
Nick Zakelj.
"He just is a guy who kept getting better every single day, and that's what you want in this league," Lynch said of the rookie. "He came from a smaller school, lesser competition. So probably, it was an eye-opener when he got here, just like it was at the Senior Bowl. I remember [assistant general manager] Adam [Peters] talking about, at the Senior Bowl, his Day 2 was so much better than his Day 1, and he's got a lot in his body. And he just kept looking like more and more of an NFL player with every given day.
"We have really focused on him at the guards (positions). We don't want to throw too much [at him], but we do believe he has center in his future, and he'll start snapping out here and make that part of his repertoire under the thought that the more you can do, the better for him, and the better for us."
San Francisco took a risk waiving undrafted rookie offensive lineman
Jason Poe but got him to the practice squad.
"You talk about a guy you respect and just the joy he brings to playing football," Lynch said. "I think it's palpable. You feel it. And we were hanging on for dear life. That was a hard call [to waive him]. And the guys love him in the locker room. When he makes a play, everybody, you hear it. We're just going to put him in and allow him to keep getting better.
"Guys like that, despite the challenges of being a little smaller, when you have heart, fight—and it's not just that—he has the ability. Those guys tend to make it."
The 49ers are high on their fourth-round pick, guard
Spencer Burford, who mainly played tackle in his last two seasons at UTSA. However, he also played some guard, which prompted the team to move him inside.
"He's held pretty well there, playing right guard the whole time," assistant general manager Adam Peters said. "He'll have his wins, he'll have his losses, good days, and bad days, but you see little incremental growth every single day. And I think he's got a really bright future. He's got long arms, he's very strong, he's smart, and he's a hard worker, so that's all you can ask for."
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Brock Purdy started throwing this week, and it sounds like the San Francisco 49ers are pleased with their second-year quarterback's progress. While Purdy isn't doing anything overly taxing, it is the first time he is throwing a football—albeit reportedly a lighter-weighted one.
Purdy underwent surgery on March 10 to repair the tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, an injury suffered against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. His recovery is expected to last into late August or early September—barring any setbacks.
"There are certain markers that you hit," general manager John Lynch said Wednesday morning on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "He was 12 weeks out, and that meant it was time to throw. He did so and
Over the offseason, there has been significant talk surrounding the San Francisco 49ers and their quarterbacks, especially after the team signed Sam Darnold in free agency, providing them three capable options with starting experience in the former Carolina Panther, Brock Purdy, and Trey Lance.
Purdy is evidently the leader in the clubhouse, as stated by general manager John Lynch and head coach Kyle Shanahan several times this offseason, but many have pointed out his flaws, such as the inability to make throws downfield, as a reason why one of the other quarterbacks could win over the starting job with a strong performance in organized team activities(OTAs) and training camp.
What do the 49ers believe about Purdy's downfield ability?
General manager
During an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio, San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch once again called Brock Purdy the "leader in the clubhouse" when it comes to the team's starting quarterback job. Purdy earned that with his superb play last season as a rookie, helping guide the 49ers to eight consecutive wins before an NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Purdy suffered a UCL tear in that game and will miss most or all of this offseason. That opens the door for Trey Lance or Sam Darnold to impress coaches and potentially climb the depth chart. Lance opened last season as the 49ers' starter but suffered a season-ending ankle injury during Week 2.
The 49ers haven't lost faith in their former No. 3 overall draft pick. They still see a lot
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy started throwing again last week, his first significant throwing session (with a football, at least) since the NFC Championship Game in January when he tore the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow. Purdy underwent surgery on March 10 to repair the damage and isn't expected to be cleared to hit the practice field for several months.
The 49ers liked what they saw from his limited work last week.
"He's just had one session thus far, but we're incredibly encouraged by that," general manager John Lynch said last week during an interview on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "And Brock's a worker. If you give him a
