Getty Image / Tim Nwachukwu
For a while, it sure looked like the San Francisco 49ers were going to have a Cinderella season with Brock Purdy. The rookie quarterback had yet to lose a game heading into Sunday’s NFC Title Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, putting him one game away from the Super Bowl.
And, what a story it would have been. The Iowa State product was the last pick of the 2022 NFL Draft. And, he entered the season as the third-stringer in San Francisco, before Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo both got hurt.
But, Cinderella’s carriage turned into a pumpkin in a big way on Sunday. Early in the loss to Philadelphia, Purdy was hit by Eagles’ edge rusher Hassan Reddick. At first, the hit looked benign. But, it very much was not.
"I think that's as much on the quarterback as it is the failure to block."
Former #NFL HC Mike Martz breaks down why a lack of pocket awareness by Brock Purdy played a major role on the play that got him injured #NowYouKnow pic.twitter.com/35eudc68vF
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 30, 2023
And, the diagnosis is not good.
Brock Purdy tore his UCL Sunday and will be sidelined for six months, per @AdamSchefter pic.twitter.com/656zmFv2IR
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 30, 2023
That injury may sound familiar, as Purdy tore the same ligament that baseball pitchers often tear, resulting in Tommy John surgery.
That is just about the worst-case scenario for the 49ers, as now he will not be able to participate in basically any offseason work. This is a franchise that invested a lot in 2021 third-overall pick Trey Lance, and Jimmy Garoppolo is in the picture as well. A quarterback battle between Lance and Purdy was likely, but now, unless the 49ers bring in someone, maybe Tom Brady, for instance it appears Lance will be the likely starter.
Of course, that has its own complications, as well, as Lance is recovering from a broken ankle. He should be back for the start of OTA’s, but it’s still less-than-ideal in San Francisco.
With a window to win a Super Bowl right now, they will have some tough decisions to make this off-season.