The San Francisco 49ers simply declared that quarterback Brock Purdy suffered an elbow injury during Sunday's NFC Championship Game loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Following the game, the rookie was still in significant pain. He will undergo an MRI on Monday.
"My arm just felt like it stretched out," Purdy explained when asked about the injury. "I just felt like, really, a lot of just shocks all over, from my elbow down to my wrist, front and back. Just pain, really, all over. … It is a little swollen in the forearm area near the elbow. That's all I know."
ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the 49ers believe Purdy injured his ulnar collateral ligament. However, the hope is that it did not rupture and will only require a six-week recovery, making the quarterback available for the team's offseason program.
49ers believe QB Brock Purdy injured his ulnar collateral ligament during today's NFC Championship Game, per sources, and he will undergo an MRI Monday. The hope is that it's not ruptured, and it would require only a six-week recovery, but tests Monday will provide clarity.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 30, 2023
"Unlike pitchers, most NFL QB's who suffer UCL injuries don't require reconstructive surgery due to differences in throwing mechanics/stress across the elbow," wrote Dr. Nirav Pandya, who often offers injury analysis to 95.7 The Game. "That being said, there are specific cases (complete rupture with significant elbow instability) were it may be indicated."
He added that the injury is rare with quarterbacks. However, in a study looking at 10 NFL quarterbacks who dealt with the injury, only one required surgery.
Purdy, the last overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, had helped the 49ers win eight games (seven starts) leading into Sunday's bout with the Eagles. Purdy finished the game 4-of-4 for 23 yards, throwing only one pass following the injury. He didn't anticipate returning to the game, but the team with few options after backup Josh Johnson was ruled out due to a concussion.
"He couldn't throw," head coach Kyle Shanahan said of Purdy. "Then, when he came in, we had to decide what he could throw, and there weren't too many options after that."