Shanahan satisfied with his current QBs
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan is “content” going into next season with Brock Purdy and Trey Lance as the top two quarterbacks for the 49ers even after both head into the offseason rehabilitating major injuries.
Purdy could be sidelined until training camp with an elbow injury suffered in the NFC championship game, while Lance is still recovering from a second operation on his broken right ankle, but is expected to be ready for the offseason program.
That uncertainty doesn’t mean the 49ers are looking for a veteran option to compete as the starter on one of the NFL’s most talented rosters.
“I know we have two starters on our team right now that I believe we can win with, so when you have that situation, you’re not that eager to go looking around,” Shanahan said Wednesday.
Lance began the season as the starter, but got hurt early in his second game. He has thrown only 102 passes in two seasons in the NFL after San Francisco traded three first-round picks to draft him third overall in 2021.
Purdy came in with much less fanfare as the last pick in the 2022 draft, but shined late in the season after Lance’s replacement, Jimmy Garoppolo, went down with a broken foot.
Purdy won his first seven starts before losing 31-7 to Philadelphia in the NFC championship game. He hurt his elbow on the opening drive and returned to play the second half in an emergency, even though he couldn’t throw the ball more than a few yards because of a torn ligament in his right elbow.
Purdy is still seeking additional opinions on his treatment options, but the most likely scenario is a repair to the elbow that would allow him to be back before the start of next season.
“He’s continuing to go through that process,” general manager John Lynch said. “I think the positive bit of news is that it seems to be consistent that the right approach is that one that takes about that six-month mark.”
Under that scenario, Purdy would be able to start a throwing program in about three months and be back to his old self well before the start of next season.