Brock Purdy has postponed his planned elbow surgery after an examination on Tuesday revealed persistent inflammation. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.
The San Francisco 49ers quarterback was scheduled to have surgery on Tuesday for a torn ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) in his throwing arm before undergoing the procedure on the recommendation of Dr. Keith Meister postpones. Meister is the team doctor for MLB’s Texas Rangers and an expert on the reconstruction of the UCL, which is more common among baseball pitchers.
According to the report, Purdy, Meister and the 49ers will revisit the procedure in March. The postponement raises questions about Purdy’s recovery timeline and what type of procedures he will actually undergo.
Purdy was diagnosed with a full UCL tear on January 30, the day after the NFC Championship game. He suffered the injury in the first half of the loss to the Philadelphia Eagles and left the game. He returned after half-time in an emergency situation.
His backup Josh Johnson was ruled out with a concussion, and the 49ers were left with quarterbacks. They had already lost Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo for the season. Purdy failed to throw the ball down on his return, and the 49ers’ offense was left stagnant without a functioning quarterback in a blowout loss.
Doctors knew at the time of the diagnosis that Purdy needed surgery — just not what kind.
The surgery will have to wait for Brock Purdy. (Kevin Sabitus/Getty Images)
A procedure known as internal braces surgery would sideline Purdy for about six months, leaving open the possibility of a return to training camp. The alternative is a full Tommy John reconstruction, the kind that puts MLB pitchers on hiatus for a year or more. In that case, Purdy’s return next season would be unlikely.
49ers general manager John Lynch said in early February that “we appear encouraged by the forecast” which points to the six-month process. Back then, Purdy sought second opinions. Doctors won’t know for sure what procedure he needs until they cut Purdy’s elbow. Now every surgery he undergoes is delayed.
The story goes on
Purdy’s status for next season hinges on a 49ers franchise geared up to compete for a Super Bowl. They advanced to their second straight conference championship last season only to see their hopes dashed by quarterback injuries.
Purdy — the final pick in last April’s draft — was a revelation after taking offense as a third-row rookie. As a starter, he led the 49ers to seven straight wins, including two in the playoffs, before losing to the Eagles in the championship game. He was on track to likely win the job next season against former No. 3 overall pick Trey Lance, who has started just four NFL games since his draft in 2021, due in part to his own bad luck with injuries is.
Garoppolo, who also started several games for San Francisco last season, is scheduled to become a free agent in March and the 49ers have already ruled out the possibility of re-signing him.
Lance is expected to be healthy for off-season activities after recovering from an ankle fracture. Purdy’s status remains in limbo — at least for now — and the 49ers face an offseason filled with tough decisions.