Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Rapoport on 49ers’ Brock Purdy: “How is he not the starting quarterback next [season]?”
Jan 16, 2023 at 5:01 PM
•
Everyone has been impressed by San Francisco 49ers rookie quarterback
Brock Purdy. It's not just because he was the last overall pick in last year's draft. Purdy has been playing some impressive football. On Saturday against the Seattle Seahawks, in his first-ever NFL playoff game, Purdy finished the game 18-of-30 for 332 yards and three touchdowns, adding four carries for 16 yards and a rushing touchdown in the 41-23 win.
The performances over the last seven games are changing the minds of anyone who might have thought Purdy is a fluke. There has been talk of a quarterback battle between Purdy and the former No. 3 overall pick,
Trey Lance, this offseason. One NFL insider even wonders how the rookie quarterback isn't the frontrunner in any battle.
"He's done some amazing things," Ian Rapoport said Monday on KNBR's
Murph & Mac show. "I am impressed by all of the athletic stuff, but I'm more impressed by how he doesn't seem to be bothered by anything."
Rapoport notes that he hears others downplay Purdy's performances, attributing them to playing within head coach Kyle Shanahan's system. However, the insider notes that he has seen some quarterbacks not play well within the system, so he doesn't believe that has anything to do with it.
"Trey Lance, I think, could be very good, but it's not like he was blowing the doors off the thing when he was in there earlier in the year," Rapoport said. "Brock Purdy comes in and has got that thing humming. I think it's really impressive."
If Rapoport had to guess, he would predict that Lance will not be the 49ers' starting quarterback next season, barring an injury. That's a hard pill to swallow for a team that gave up the draft equivalent of a fortune for Lance.
There will be significant focus on the 49ers' quarterback situation during the upcoming offseason. It will likely be one of the more intriguing storylines in Santa Clara, especially if the Purdy Magic continues deep into the playoffs.
Said Rapoport: "What you're going to hear, especially from people like me, and are already talking about it, is what are they going to do next year?"
Rapoport acknowledges that had Purdy and the 49ers lost on Saturday, it might be easier to start discussing door number two, whether that be Lance or someone like
Tom Brady. Purdy did win, though.
"Like, how is he not the starting quarterback next year?" Rapoport said. "... What more do you want? What is out there that he is not doing?"
All fair questions.
You can listen to the entire conversation with Rapoport below.
LISTEN
Facebook Comments
More San Francisco 49ers News
Photo: Recovering 49ers QB Brock Purdy spotted by fan
Brock Purdy can begin throwing again sometime in June. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback is expected to be ready to hit the field—practice or in-game—sometime in September.
Purdy is recovering from surgery to repair the tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, an injury sustained in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He hasn't been seen since the surgery, with his last public appearance taking place In Arizona, during the week leading to the Super Bowl.
One fan spotted Purdy, though, getting a photo with the 49ers quarterback (h/t TheSFNiners). As expected, Purdy is wearing a massive brace on his throwing arm,
49ers' QB1? John Lynch calls Brock Purdy the "leader in the clubhouse"
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, speaking with reporters at the owners' meetings in Arizona on Monday morning, made it clear where Brock Purdy sits in the team's quarterback depth chart. Purdy, recovering from surgery on March 10, has earned the right to the top spot.
"I think Brock has earned the right with the way he played that he's probably the leader in the clubhouse at that," Lynch said. "I'll let [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] make those kind of decisions, but I know, when we talk, I think Brock's probably earned that right to be the guy. If we were to line up, he'd probably take that first snap."
Of course, Lynch clarified that all quarterbacks—Purdy, Trey Lance, and Sam Darnold—will compete for the 49ers' starting job. However,
The "Leader in the Clubhouse," 49ers QB Brock Purdy
49ers general manager John Lynch spoke to the 49ers beat writers at the NFL owners' meetings yesterday. Lynch discussed Purdy's health and whether he would be the starter when ready to play. He stated, "I think Brock has earned the right with the way he played that he's probably the leader in the clubhouse. Brock's earned that right to be that guy if we line up to take that first snap."
Not many would argue that Purdy shouldn't be the starting quarterback after his phenomenal season during his rookie year. Purdy finished the season with 1,374 yards, 13 touchdowns, four interceptions, and completed 67.1 percent of his passes.
He was even more impressive in the playoffs with 569 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions, and completed 65.1 percent of his passes.
Kyle Shanahan, 49ers will have better idea of Brock Purdy recovery timeline in June
It could be six months. It could be eight months. The San Francisco 49ers don't have a clear picture right now regarding quarterback Brock Purdy's recovery timeline. They will have a better idea in June, though. That's when the second-year quarterback will begin throwing again and ramping up his workload for the remaining portion of his rehabilitation.
Purdy underwent surgery to repair the tear of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, an injury suffered on January 29 in the NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
"He won't be able to do anything on the field for—who knows?" head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters Tuesday morning from the NFL owners'
