NFL insider Ian Rapoport was asked to provide any updates on San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy is three-and-a-half months removed from surgery to repair the torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow, an injury suffered in the NFC Championship Game. The second-year quarterback started throwing footballs again late last month and has been ramping up his workload, trying to return in time for the regular season.
Rapoport didn't have much to say that was new information. In a way, that's good. With Purdy rehabbing such a severe injury and looking to be ahead of schedule in his recovery, no news is good news.
Earlier today, Rapoport's NFL Media colleague, Tom Pelissero, reported that Purdy is in Jacksonville for the next phase of his rehab. Everything points toward the 49ers quarterback being healthy enough to play in Week 1.
"Anytime that a 49ers official or 49ers coach has been asked about Brock Purdy over the last month or so, the refrain has been consistent," Rapoport said on NFL Network. "Brock Purdy should be ready for the start of the season. That is the expectation. That is where he is as he tries to come back from surgery on the UCL.
"And our good friend, Tom Pelissero, mentioned today he's now flying to Jacksonville. He's probably there already. It's nighttime. He's going to train with Will Hewlett, his personal quarterbacks coach, and his ortho specialist, Tom Gormely. Namely, he's just throwing, which is really good considering that he is still throwing now, still progressing, still on track.
"It means all signs point to him still being the starter for the opener for the 49ers this season."
While the 49ers are cautious with Purdy's recovery, they are optimistic the quarterback can start practicing before the end of training camp, perhaps as early as sometime during the second half of August.
In May, Purdy admitted that he isn't trying to set any return dates. Instead, the quarterback is taking his recovery one day at a time while hoping everything works out, and he is on the football field with his teammates on September 10 against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
"That's a goal, right?" Purdy said. "You want to be ready for the season, and if that's the case, great. But like I said, we're just taking it one day at a time and don't want to say anything that we regret down the road or whatever."
Last month, head coach Kyle Shanahan said he hopes Purdy can participate in training camp, acknowledging that is the best-case scenario. However, there have been no setbacks, so the 49ers coach remained encouraged while speaking to reporters earlier this month.
"He's right on pace," Shanahan said. "I think he throws three times a week. I do not sit and watch those. It's part of his process of getting back, and he's continuing right on the track he's always been on. No setbacks, and it's been very good so far."
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