San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Avoids Dreaded Tommy John Surgery

Trey Lance's days in San Francisco could be numbered. Speaking with ESPN's Stephania Bell, second-year quarterback Brock Purdy revealed he was able to avoid Tommy John surgery on his injured shoulder, significantly shortening his recovery timeline and opening up the door for a return by training camp.

Had a chance to catch up with Niners QB Brock Purdy briefly today… https://t.co/RsUmBcd6ER
— Stephania Bell (@Stephania_ESPN) April 14, 2023

Purdy tore his UCL in the NFC Championship game, but conflicting timelines quickly emerged regarding when he would be ready for football activities. By avoiding the most extreme surgery, the dreaded Tommy John, there is now optimism that Purdy could be ready for the season opener.

Prior to the good news on Purdy, the 49ers were staring down the possibility of Trey Lance handling most of the snaps at quarterback this offseason. They even entertained the possibility he had a chance to win the starting job. Lance has seen extremely limited action since coming into the league as the 49ers' third-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, totalling 797 passing yards and 235 rushing yards in eight appearances over his two seasons.

Purdy was one of the league's most pleasant surprises in his rookie year, winning his first seven career starts while managing an impressive 107.3 passer rating over 170 regular season passes. The 49ers have previously communicated starting duties were his to lose, but Lance should still possess all the traits and qualities that made him worthy of a massive trade-up. If he can't wrestle the starting job away from Purdy this season, he may have to look for a new team in 2024.