49ers QB Roll Call: How does Brock Purdy look in his comeback?
Brock Purdy and his surgically repaired elbow joined 49ers training camp practices on Thursday, 179 days since his injury in the NFC Championship Game loss at Philadelphia.
SANTA CLARA — Here is how the 49ers’ four quarterbacks looked in Thursday’s practice according to our sideline clipboard:
BROCK PURDY
Jan. 29: Right elbow injured.
March 10: Ulnar collateral ligament repaired.
July 27: Return to practice!
Well, that escalated quicker than anticipated. A 179-day span sure beats a year-long hiatus had he required Tommy John reconstruction.
Purdy looks healthy. Perhaps rusty. But healthy, so he certainly is poised to retain the starting role for the Sept. 10 opener at Pittsburgh.
Statistically, he completed just 3-of-10 passes in full-team drills. Not all those misses were on him, such as his first pass being dropped by Ross Dwelley in the right flat.
#49ers Brock Purdy is back — as is his connection to George Kittle pic.twitter.com/pJepJWfbHE
— Cam Inman (@CamInman) July 27, 2023
The most concerning pass: Purdy’s second series began when Clelin Ferrell brought pressure from Purdy’s left, and Purdy pushed a pass off his back foot toward Brandon Aiyuk. That resulted in an interception, by Tashaun Gipson Sr., who returned it for a would-be 30-yard pick-six.
Purdy put his whole 6-foot-1, 220-pound body into a throw that precisely found George Kittle on an out route near the left sideline. That was in a 7-on-7 session, followed by a high throw nabbed over the middle by Aiyuk, then an overthrow for Jauan Jennings 40 yards down the sideline.
Purdy’s pocket presence resurfaced in team drills when he stepped up to avoid Kevin Givens’ rush and completed a pass to Aiyuk, ironically while the song “Rookie Of The Year” (by Moneybagg Yo) blared on the loudspeakers. Shanahan recently referred to the “Rookie Of The Year” movie character Henry Rowengartner, who, as a teenager, broke his arm and came back with a 100-mph fastball to pitch for the Cubs.
As for Purdy’s velocity, he showed enough zip to find Aiyuk over the middle after a play-action fake to Christian McCaffrey. Purdy’s last throw, however, was nearly intercepted by linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles over the middle on another target toward Aiyuk. In this offense, accuracy and timing mean more than velocity.
Once practice ended, Purdy stuck around for some extra throws, as did Sam Darnold, to Ray-Ray McCloud and Willie Snead IV.
Stats: 3-of-10 in team drills with an interception and no touchdowns (no quarterback has thrown a touchdown in team drills through two practices); 5-of-7 in 7-on-7 action with no linemen.
TREY LANCE
After completing 4-of-5 passes in Wednesday’s full-team drills, Lance completed just two passes in a limited encore as he rotated second-team reps with Sam Darnold. Lance’s first pass, to Jennings, nearly was intercepted by Flannigan-Fowles and Sam Womack. Linebacker Marcelino McCrary-Ball broke up Lance’s next pass, for Ty Davis-Price, before completions came to Jordan Mason and Danny Gray.
Stats: 2-of-5 in team drills.
SAM DARNOLD
Darnold was skipped in the first rotation of quarterbacks during 11-on-11 drills, with Lance immediately relieving Purdy, followed by Brandon Allen. Darnold made good on his first opportunity, however, and completed a 20-yard strike to Deebo Samuel on the sideline vs. Womack.
One of Darnold’s best plays came when he unleashed a high-speed pass that Gray leaped to grab (then fumble and recover). Darnold may exercise too much patience at times in the pocket, but when he throws, he throws hard. Another highlight came when Darnold found Aiyuk for a 30-yard shot after Womack slipped in coverage.
Stats: 3-of-5 in team drills.
BRANDON ALLEN
Going 4-of-5 is pretty impressive amid third-stringers. He got just three snaps in his initial sequence (with an incompletion to Snead), and Allen finished strong with completions to Chris Conley and Jennings.
Purdy’s integration should mean fewer reps for Allen, who left the Cincinnati Bengals’ No. 2 job for a chance in the 49ers’ corps. “I don’t worry much about the reps I’m given,” Allen told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco. “I’ve been a (No. 3 QB) early in my career, too. There were a lot of days when I didn’t get reps. So I know how it is to have to produce when you get the reps. It’s nothing new to me.”
Stats: 4-of-5 in team drills.