After further testing, the San Francisco 49ers’ fears have come true as quarterback Brock Purdy has a UCL «complete tear» in his throwing elbow, according to NFL Network.
Initial testing after Purdy was injured in the NFC Championship loss to the Philadelphia Eagles showed a UCL injury, but the severity was unknown to the Niners. The hope was that he would make a six-week recovery if he didn’t break.
Instead, Purdy will be closed for six months as he needs to have surgery to repair it.
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Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers warms up before the NFC Championship NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
(Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
The report added that Purdy will seek second opinions to avoid Tommy John surgery, which would not make him ready for training camp. Tommy John surgery, commonly found when baseball pitchers sustain a UCL injury, is a ligament reconstruction.
Purdy hopes something different can be done so he’s ready to challenge for the starting job this coming summer.
Purdy’s injury came as he was looking to make a pass downfield, but Eagles running back Haason Reddick, who is having a good postseason so far, hit him before his arm advanced, causing a fumble and changing the field in favor of the local team.
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Purdy’s arm was clearly affected when Reddick’s hand hit it before the pitch.
Backup quarterback Josh Johnson replaced Purdy, but suffered his own injury during the game. He suffered a concussion after being hit, which put him out of the contest and forced Purdy to return.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan had no choice, but Purdy couldn’t throw the ball more than 5 yards. The offense, then, was one-dimensional and the Eagles feasted on their running plays, no matter how hard Shanahan tried to get to them.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick, right, causes a fumble by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy during the first half of the NFL Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, January 29, 2023, in Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
With Purdy and Johnson suffering major injuries that sidelined them, the Eagles got away with the 49ers in a 31-7 thrashing to head to the Super Bowl to face the Kansas City Chiefs.
Injured quarterbacks is the biggest story for San Fran this season despite their winning ways. Shanahan had to deal with his opening day starter, Trey Lance, who suffered a broken ankle in his season-ending Week 2.
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Then Jimmy Garoppolo broke his foot, sending Purdy to center after being Mr. Irrelevant in this year’s NFL Draft (the last pick).
Now the 49ers will be thinking about what happens next at the position before next season. Before this game, Purdy’s 7-0 record and chemistry with the offense led to speculation that he would start Shanahan the next season, even though Lance was the team’s third overall pick in the 2021 Draft.
Additionally, Garoppolo only signed a one-year deal with San Francisco, making him a free agent again. And who knows how Lance will recover from his ankle injury?
Brock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers looks to pass against the Dallas Cowboys during the first quarter in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Levi’s Stadium on January 22, 2023 in Santa Clara, California.
(Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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Purdy went 5-0 when he started during the regular season, totaling 1,374 yards with 13 touchdowns and four interceptions in nine games. He also went 18 of 30 with three touchdown passes and 332 yards in a wild-card round win over the Seattle Seahawks at home. He was 19 of 29 passing for 214 yards against the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round.