49ers’ Brock Purdy has ‘successful’ surgery!
San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy runs out to the field before Niners play Philadelphia Eagles in NFC Divisional Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. PA., on Sunday, January 29, 2023.Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
Updated: 2023.03.10 – After spending 40 anxious days in limbo, the 49ers received good news Friday as quarterback Brock Purdy had what they termed “successful” elbow surgery to repair his ulnar collateral ligament.
Purdy is expected to be able to resume throwing in three months after the Texas Rangers’ team physician, Dr. Keith Meister, performed the procedure in the Dallas area.
Dr. Meister used the internal-brace technique, which involves sutures and screws to stabilize the ligament. A source declined to provide a rough full-recovery timeline Friday.
Both head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch have said the expectation is that Purdy would be ready to return in about six months – around the start of the regular season – if the internal-brace technique was used.
The surgery resulted in the expected outcome, but it wasn’t guaranteed. Purdy had said Meister could elect to perform a “hybrid” surgery, which involves a graft and longer recovery timeline, if Purdy’s UCL had sustained more damage than what had been revealed by MRI exams.
It’s notable that the first Sunday of the NFL regular season is Sept. 10, exactly six months from Purdy’s surgery. Given the apparently tight timeline, it’s possible Purdy won’t be ready by Week 1, which likely would leave Trey Lance to assume his spot.
The encouraging surgical outcome likely means the 49ers won’t be in the market for a free-agent QB with extensive starting experience such as Andy Dalton, Jacoby Brissett, Teddy Bridgewater or Baker Mayfield.
They could target a mid-tier option who would be comfortable spending most of the season as the third-stringer behind Purdy and Lance. Two former 49ers QBs who are unrestricted free agents, Nick Mullens and Nate Sudfeld, could fit that profile.
49ers Purdy to undergo delayed elbow surgery Friday
San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy, 13, fumbles as his wrist is hit by Philadelphia Eagles’ linebacker Haason Reddick, 7, in the first quarter during the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. Scott Strazzante, Staff / The Chronicle
Updated: 2023.03.06 – QB Brock Purdy’s throwing elbow won’t have to wait much longer to have his long-awaited surgery. The San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback is scheduled to have a procedure to repair his torn ulnar collateral ligament Friday in the Dallas area, a league source said. The date was set after Purdy met his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, in Arizona last week.
Purdy’s surgery would occur 40 days after he was injured in the 49ers’ loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 29. He initially was scheduled to have surgery Feb. 22, but it was postponed because of ongoing inflammation in his right elbow.
Purdy’s procedure — along with his post-surgery prognosis — should provide much-needed clarity for the 49ers when it comes to how they address their QB situation this off-season. Free agents can begin negotiating with teams next Monday and officially sign contracts two days later on the first day of free agency.
Last week, general manager John Lynch was more circumspect when asked about Purdy being available in six months if he had a standard UCL repair.
“There’s a variety of different time frames,” Lynch said, Every person’s different, so timelines are just that: They’re guidelines. But we’ll see.”
“The reality is the majority of these are done on baseball players,” Lynch said. “This is not a baseball injury. Even the way in which it happened: Brock’s going to throw and a 250-pound man with an opposing force (hit him). It’s a different injury. And so the outcomes are different, and we’ll see where it goes.”
Purdy’s injury has created offseason anxiety for the 49ers after his unexpectedly brilliant rookie season appeared to erase any uncertainty about their season-opening starter in 2023.
QB Trey Lance suffered a broken ankle in September that required two surgeries, but he is expected to be medically cleared for the start of off-season practices in May.
Lance’s uneven career start likely would prompt the 49ers to sign a QB who at least would provide competition if Purdy is likely to miss a significant portion of the season.
After being injured in 1st quarter, San Francisco 49ers?• Brock Purdy leaves the field at halftime against Philadelphia Eagles during NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. PA., on Sunday, January 29, 2023. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle
2023.02.22 – QB1 Brock Purdy’s throwing elbow remains inflamed, so surgery on the 49ers’ quarterback has been postponed until next month, a league source confirmed Tuesday night.
Purdy, who was scheduled to have elbow surgery Wednesday in Dallas, met with his surgeon, Dr. Keith Meister, on Tuesday and it was recommended that Purdy wait to undergo his procedure because of continued inflammation, according to multiple league sources. Purdy will meet again with Meister, the team physician for the Texas Rangers, in early March.
Despite the postponement, it’s still expected that Purdy will have his torn ulnar collateral ligament repaired with what’s known as the internal-brace technique, which involves screws and sutures to stabilize the ligament. With a repair, Purdy is expected to resume throwing in three months and be medically cleared to return to full football activities in six months.
Given the delay, Purdy would now be ready around the first Sunday of the NFL regular season (Sept. 9) if he has the surgery in early March.
That’s the best-case scenario. It’s possible Meister could determine mid-surgery that Purdy will require a more involved procedure based on the extent of the damage to his UCL that wasn’t revealed on MRIs. Purdy has said this “hybrid” surgery would involve a graft and a recovery time of seven to nine months, meaning that, if Purdy had the procedure in early March, he could be sidelined until early December if his rehab progresses slowly.
From Trey Lance to Jimmy Garoppolo to Purdy, the 49ers overcame quarterback injuries throughout the season, winning 12 straight games to reach their third conference title game in four years.
“It’s tough, it’s frustrating,” tight end George Kittle said. “Life kind of punches you in the face sometimes and it is what it is.”
2023.02.22 – THE GAME : 49ers QB CONUNDRUM after Brock Purdy news
San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy, 13, fumbles as his wrist is hit by Philadelphia Eagles’ linebacker Haason Reddick, 7, in the first quarter during the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. Scott Strazzante, Staff / The Chronicle
2023.02.22 – THE GAME : 49ers QB CONUNDRUM after Brock Purdy news
2023.02.22 – THE GAME : 49ers QB CONUNDRUM after Brock Purdy news
“The doctors say, you’ve got to go in and see what it looks like,” Purdy said on “The Doug Gottlieb Show” on Feb. 10. “After all the MRIs and results that we’ve done so far, they’ve got a good idea like, ‘Man, we’ve seen this a million times. We’re going to do a repair with the internal brace.’ … That’s where we’re at with it. But you still just don’t know until they go in for surgery.”
It sounds as if it would be a major upset if Purdy needed a more complex surgery. Given the 49ers’ ongoing injury issues, however, head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch likely will be experiencing plenty of pre-procedure nerves.
They could be forgiven for fearing the worst after a year in which their top two quarterbacks, Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo, suffered season-ending injuries in the regular season and their next two quarterbacks, Purdy and Josh Johnson, were hurt in their 31-7 loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 29.
The 49ers were forced to end their season without a fully functional QB as Purdy, unable to throw more than 10 yards, returned primarily to hand off after Johnson suffered a concussion.
Now, nearly a month later, their off-season QB plan would likely require major editing if Purdy’s recovery extends deep into the regular season.
2023.02.22 – 49ers off-season primer: Brock Purdy’s injury, Jimmy Garoppolo’s departure, free-agent decisions
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) rolls out against the Dallas Cowboys during the first half of an NFL divisional round playoff football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
2023.02.22 – 49ers off-season primer: Brock Purdy’s injury, Jimmy Garoppolo’s departure, free-agent decisions
2023.02.22 – 49ers off-season primer: Brock Purdy’s injury, Jimmy Garoppolo’s departure, free-agent decisions
Shanahan said shortly after the season that they expected to enter 2023 with Purdy and Lance as their top two QBs while indicating they would probably add a low-cost No. 3 QB in free agency.
However, that plan would probably be scuttled if Purdy needs a hybrid surgery. That could prompt the 49ers to sign a higher-end QB, such as Andy Dalton (Saints), Teddy Bridgewater (Dolphins) or Jacoby Brissett (Browns), to provide competition for Lance and potentially serve as a capable backup while Purdy is out.
Purdy is the favorite to serve as the season-opening starter if he can return in time for Week 1 at full strength. He indicated he’s had discussions with Shanahan and Lynch about his anticipated role next season, with the understanding that the outcome of his surgery will help determine the path forward.
And the postponement of Wednesday’s scheduled surgery figures to only add to the 49ers’ anxiety and uncertainty.
2023.02.22 – Purdy’s Surgery Has Been DELAYED (KRUEGER Show)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) walks to locker room after a win against the Dallas Cowboys on an NFL divisional round playoff football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Jan. 22, 2023. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)
2023.02.22 – Purdy’s Surgery Has Been DELAYED (KRUEGER Show)
2023.02.22 – Purdy’s Surgery Has Been DELAYED (KRUEGER Show)
“We’ve had some conversations, but the biggest thing for them, is, ‘Man, you’ve got to get healthy and see where we go from there,’” Purdy said. “If I’m delayed coming back, they have to do what’s best for the team and have someone, like Trey or someone, ready. But we haven’t had any other serious conversations about it. It’s just going to come down to what happens and what it looks like post-surgery.”
Eric Branch covers the 49ers for The San Francisco Chronicle: ebranch@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @Eric_Branch
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