San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch spoke with team reporter Lindsey Pallares at the start of Thursday's training camp practice. The conversation started with Brock Purdy and how the Niners' second-year quarterback has bounced back from offseason surgery.
Purdy suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his right elbow during the NFC Championship Game in January. He underwent surgery on March 10 to repair the damage.
Most felt the quarterback might be able to return sometime during the second half of August. The 49ers surprised everyone at the start of training camp on July 25, announcing that Purdy had already been medically cleared to practice.
"I think it's why it's so important to bring the right kind of people, because not only, while they're playing, is it going to lead to their success, but when they get injured, how are they going to attack that rehab?" Lynch said. "And Brock has just done a tremendous job since day one. There were some hurdles early on. We had to push the surgery back, but that decision was made for the right reason. They wanted the best outcome.
"And we always knew Brock would attack it, but you kind of hang on and you don't know. He kept hitting every marker that we had. They felt good about his ability to show up on day one of training camp and be ready, but you don't believe it until you see it. And Brock's done a tremendous job, and he's a part of a group, a quarterback room with Trey [Lance], with Sam [Darnold], with Brandon Allen, along with Brock, that we feel really good about.
"And Brock's doing great. There's still a plan in place. So often, people will see two days on, one day off, two days on, two days off, but he's really making the strides we want to see and playing at a high level, and picking up exactly where he left off last year."
Purdy had an impressive rookie season last year, becoming the 49ers' starter after Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a broken foot in Week 13. Garoppolo, of course, had replaced Lance, who sustained a season-ending ankle injury during Week 2. Purdy went on to guide the team to eight consecutive wins before that NFC Championship Game loss, the contest in which he suffered his injury early.
Lynch remains optimistic about Purdy. What has the G.M. seen from his young quarterback in training camp?
"He looks like the guy we saw last year," Lynch said. "And I think year two is always a really interesting year for a player because there should be a great jump, and Brock was pretty darn good from the start. But we're seeing signs of an even better player.
"He's been around the system another year. He's getting more reps. Remember this time last year, he's getting three or four reps a practice. But what always struck us was how he made those reps count, and he's doing the same with all the reps he's getting now, really playing and executing at a high level.
"There's a lot of belief in Brock and what he brings to the table. And he earns that each and every day out here on the practice field."