How Much Does Delay in Surgery Affect Brock Purdy's Return Timeline?

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy reportedly met with Dr. Ken Meister on Tuesday, but will not be going through with the original plan of having surgery on Wednesday.

Meister reportedly recommended delaying the surgery because of inflammation in Purdy’s right elbow, which was injured in the NFC Championship game in late January. 

While the slight delay makes sense from a medical standpoint, it gives Purdy an even tighter timeline for the start of training camp, according to the Pro Football Docs.

Brock Purdy Injury Analysis

At this point, it’s unlikely Purdy will be able to make all the necessary quarterback throws by the start of August, according to the Pro Football Docs.

While all signs still point to a repair of the UCL – rather than the reconstruction used for Tommy John surgeries – the quickest Purdy will be cleared to throw is three months.

Surgery in early March would put him on track to begin ramping up his throwing program in early June with the hope of being active by the time training camp starts in late July. 

A full recovery that allows him to make high-speed throws likely wouldn’t happen until the 6-month mark.

Impact on the 49ers

With Purdy’s status up in the air and Trey Lance also not guaranteed to be 100% mobile by Week 1, San Francisco is likely in the market for a veteran QB.

Jimmy Garoppolo and the team appear headed for a mutual split, thus the 49ers are likely to explore bringing in a third quarterback for training camp at the very least. 

Names that could be under consideration include Matt Ryan, Andy Dalton and C.J. Beathard, among others.

One does not have to look hard to see the Ryan connection to the 49ers. If the Colts cut the veteran quarterback, a Falcons OC/QB reunion could be in the cards.

San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl LVIII Odds

The 49ers currently have the third-best odds to win Super Bowl LVIII at +900, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The Bengals and Eagles are also at +900, while the Bills are at +850 and the Chiefs are at +600.

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