Return to 49ers practice felt like Christmas for Purdy

SANTA CLARA — It had been 178 days since Brock Purdy last broke the huddle with his 49ers teammates during the NFC Championship Game in Philadelphia, which made Thursday's practice very special for the young quarterback. "Just to be able to get out and say a play to my teammates and break a huddle, for that, to me, I was so excited just thinking about that," Purdy said after practice. "Was almost like last night was like Christmas, you're excited for the next day. "That's how it was for me this morning. I was excited to get out there." Since that fateful game where Purdy's Cinderella Season ended due to a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm, the quarterback has undergone surgery and a carefully planned rehabilitation, all while missing organized team activities and mandatory minicamp. In his first on-field team practice, the Iowa State quarterback might have shown a bit of rust after his time away from team drills, but he appeared calm and entirely under control. Purdy seemed the same from when he first stepped under center in Week 13 of the 2022 season. During the approximately 90-minute practice session, the two passes that might have instilled the most relief...