In 12 days, Brock Purdy is scheduled to undergo surgery to repair the torn UCL in his right arm.
The 49ers are hopeful he will be able to make a full recovery for training camp, but he might not be back until toward the end of preseason if it takes six months as expected. How should the 49ers handle getting a backup for Trey Lance, who is also coming off a serious foot/ankle injury?
On the latest 49ers Web Zone “No Huddle” podcast, hosts Zain Naqvi, Brian Renick and Al Sacco discussed how the Niners should proceed with their quarterback situation.
“They will probably have to either draft or sign somebody to back him up while Brock is getting healthy,” Naqvi said. “I think that I’m OK with them taking another flier in the draft. Here’s why – you have four years of another potentially rookie contract, your entire QB room is on rookie contracts. You’ve got deals coming up for Bosa. You probably will have to restructure (Christian) McCaffrey as well to re-sign others. You’ve got a whole plethora of free agents.”
Ultimately, Naqvi thinks Purdy deserves the keys to the offense when healthy, as he led the 49ers to eight straight wins before his injury in the NFC Championship. But Lance is expected to be available throughout the summer for offseason team activities (OTAs).
“I think it’ll be Trey as QB1 until Brock gets healthy,” Naqvi said. “He may have to start a game or two in the regular season, depending on Brock’s health and his recovery. What you’re going to see behind him is either another rookie or there’s veterans. Washington has a logjam at quarterback, they’ll be having a new quarterback next year as well. I hate to say it – Sam Darnold – in a 49ers uniform? There’s other quarterbacks out there that are serviceable that you can get a couple of games out of when Brock gets healthy. I think they’ll take it on a four-week basis at the beginning of the season. If they have to insulate themselves for four weeks by signing a veteran, then they will. For now, Trey’s QB1. I was cool with that last year and I’m cool with that this year until Brock comes back, and then it’s Brock’s team.”
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