Kyle Shanahan ‘hoping’ Brock Purdy will be ready to go for Week 1

Despite starting OTAs in the recovery room, quarterback Brock Purdy looks to be ahead of schedule this offseason.

The 49ers QB is set to begin a throwing program next week, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan. After undergoing offseason surgery on his throwing elbow in March, Purdy appears to be a week early in his recovery, set to begin throwing the football 12 weeks post-operation.

“Doing good. On schedule. He’s allowed to throw some time next week,” Shanahan said openly Tuesday.

Now set to pick up a football by the end of the month, a Week 1 return is 100% in play for the former Mr. Irrelevant. But while the team and Purdy are optimistic, they’re taking it day by day.

“It’s not really a moving target. Only God knows,” Shanahan stated. “We’re hoping for Week 1 and I feel pretty optimistic about that. Usually, you have to come back before that to make that goal, and that’s what we’re hoping for.

“And usually that doesn’t mean that’s the day he comes back, usually you’ve got to come before that to make that goal. And that’s kind of the goal we’re hoping for and don’t have any reason to think differently.”

Kyle Shanahan says Brock Purdy could start throwing next week, and the Niners are hoping he's ready for Week 1 pic.twitter.com/92lvTgA47H

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) May 23, 2023

The 49ers QB shared a similar mindset as Shanahan when he spoke to the media for the first time all offseason Tuesday.

About 12 weeks after major elbow surgery, Brock Purdy is using his right arm freely, with no external brace or cast in sight.

“I feel good,” Purdy said to the media. “My arm is feeling good…That’s the goal [to return Week 1], you want to be ready for the season.”

Regardless of projections, the Iowa State alum is focused on the present day. That means getting back to full strength with his elbow, and not on who will be QB1 in training camp.

“For me, I’m just trying to focus on where I’m at right now,” the QB said. “For me, I come into work every day, get my arm right,  try to be around the guys and do what it takes to win. We want to win a Super Bowl here, simple as that.”

Named the “leader in the clubhouse” by general manager John Lynch, Purdy is thankful for all the support and faith from his organization. But previously stated, he’s an “in the moment” kind of guy, solely working to build off of his rookie year.

“For sure, I’m appreciative and to see what we did last year, what [Lynch] told me at media row and everything. As a team, it was a great accomplishment. So we just want to build off that momentum,” Purdy added.

Brock Purdy is focused on getting his arm healthy and winning a Super Bowl pic.twitter.com/SdHZfPwKRn

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) May 23, 2023

Year 2’s offseason is a stark contrast to what Year 1 was like according to Purdy.

Coming in as a relatively unknown prospect, his main goal was to learn the playbook well enough to make a roster spot. Now, 2023 is much different in his approach, feeling as though he has a chance to get healthy and do some fine-tuning to be even better in the long term.

“There’s still a lot of details and things I can clean up, just with how I operate and see the defense and all that kind of stuff. That’s what I’m working on right now, but yeah, it’s a night & day difference for sure,” Brock Purdy exclaimed.

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