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Brock Purdy spent his offseason operating his long ago from a significant damage to his elbow that used to be sustained throughout January’s NFC identify game loss to the 49ers. And he has made strides. San Francisco lovers won excellent news this week when trainer Kyle Shanahan introduced that Purdy may be wholesome sufficient to play preseason soccer. Purdy hasn’t performed in a game since tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his proper elbow throughout San Francisco’s loss to the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game.
“We plan on Sam going the first half [against the Broncos Saturday] still,” Shanahan mentioned Thursday, by means of KNBR. “We just finished practice here, so I’m going to talk to the trainers with the rest of our team and everything. I might get Brock in there for a little bit. I have not finalized that yet, but thinking about playing the ones, for possibly a series, a little in the first quarter.”
Purdy, a rookie ultimate season who went 7-1 because the 49ers’ quarterback, underwent a process to treatment the damage on March 10. He then started a gentle coaching program and used to be cleared through the workforce to go back to follow on July 25. Purdy has taken reps solely with the 49ers’ first-team offense throughout the follow that he has participated in.
However if Purdy is not cleared to fit for the 49ers’ preseason game in opposition to Denver on Saturday, Darnold will absorb the primary part motion with Trey Lance going in the second part. Lance began San Francisco’s preseason opener on the Las Vegas Raiders ultimate week. If Purdy does play, it’s going to be restricted motion.
“But whatever that is, if we don’t (play Purdy), Sam will have the whole first half,” Shanahan mentioned. “And if those guys do open the game with Brock and some of the ones, it probably won’t be much longer than a series or two.”
Barring a setback, the purpose is for Purdy to play in the 49ers’ season-opener in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sept. 10. The Steelers’ protection, a bunch that completed tenth in the NFL in issues allowed ultimate season, options a number of Pro Bowlers in defensive lineman Cameron Heyward, outdoor linebacker T.J. Watt and protection Minkah Fitzpatrick. Pittsburgh’s protection additionally options outdoor linebacker Alex Highsmith, who won a hefty contract extension this offseason after recording 14.5 sacks in 2022.
The Steelers’ protection and the 49ers’ offense must be one in every of Week 1’s extra attention-grabbing matchups. Along with Purdy, the 49ers’ offense options perennial Pro Bowlers in operating again Christian McCaffrey, receiver Deebo Samuel, tight finish George Kittle and offensive take on Trent Williams.
Speaking of Kittle, Shanahan mentioned that he’s going to now not go back to follow this week as he continues to paintings his long ago from an adductor pressure. Shanahan mentioned that the workforce is hoping to get Kittle again in the fold subsequent week.