Report: 49ers QB Brock Purdy set to postpone elbow surgery in Texas

Well, not the best news coming out of Brock Purdy & the 49ers’ camp Tuesday night.

Scheduled to undergo surgery on his torn UCL this week, the 49ers quarterback will now postpone the operation due to ongoing inflammation. After meeting with Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, Texas Tuesday, the surgeon advised Purdy to hold off on the procedure until the persistent swelling in his right elbow goes down. The medical staff will look to reconvene in early March, with signs still pointing to a UCL repair.

The NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported the news late Tuesday evening, sharing that there still is optimism for a return at the start of next season.

#49ers QB Brock Purdy today visited Dr. Keith Meister, who recommended postponing surgery because of ongoing inflammation in Purdy’s elbow, per sources.

They’ll reconvene in early March. All signs continue to point a UCL repair that would have Purdy ready for the 2023 season.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 22, 2023

“All signs continue to point a UCL repair that would have Purdy ready for the 2023 season,” the reporter stated via Twitter Tuesday.

Brock Purdy suffered the injury to his right elbow on the first series of the NFC Championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles when outside linebacker Haason Reddick struck his arm while he was attempting a pass. Describing the pain in his elbow as “shocks all over from my elbow down to my wrist, front and back,” Purdy knew right away that something was wrong with his arm. Unable to attempt a pass downfield for the remainder of the day, the 49ers‘ offense stalled out in the second half, causing them to lose, 31-7, to the Eagles.

After seeking second opinions for weeks, the consensus was that Mr. Irrelevant needed a UCL repair, not a reconstruction otherwise known as Tommy John surgery. The chosen course of action will sideline Purdy for six months with an internal brace, rather than a year with the latter procedure.

The best outcome for the so-called internal brace surgery comes once inflammation is gone and range of motion is back. Delaying surgery doesn’t change the timeline much, so this is the prudent course of action to make sure Purdy returns at 100%. https://t.co/hQCWgcxX7Y

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) February 22, 2023

“I think the positive bit of news is that it seems to be consistent that the right approach is that one [surgery] that takes about that six-month mark,” general manager John Lynch previously stated. “So they’re continuing to work through that process. But we seem encouraged by the prognosis, that that’s kind of where it’s at.”

An unfortunate series of events, Purdy accepted his fate and is determined to pick up where he left off in August for training camp.

“I don’t know exactly what the case is going to be yet, final decision. But if that is it, then so be it. I’ll be ready come camp, and honestly, what matters to me most is being able to play for the season. So if that’s the case, then so be it,” Purdy said.

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