How 49ers QB Purdy is benefiting from his first full, healthy offseason originally appeared in NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA – Brock Purdy will enter the 2024 NFL season in the healthiest and most prepared he has ever been.
Of course, the sample size is small for the third-year signal caller. In his first offseason in 2022, Purdy was just a seventh-round quarterback fighting for an NFL roster spot. Last offseason, he spent recovering from UCL surgery that sidelined him until training camp.
Now, for the first time in his career, Purdy can reap the offseason benefits of being an NFL starting quarterback.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday at Levi’s Stadium after the 49ers’ second organized team activities (OTAs) practice, head coach Kyle Shanahan shared the difference between Purdy this offseason compared to last year and how the young quarterback is shaping up. benefiting from actually being able to review the film, learn from it and then apply what you learned.
“He’s definitely ahead of where he was last year at this time,” Shanahan said. “But it was really cool to be able to go through a whole year of cuts like we did last year and just start in Phase 1, the command that he had in training and everything and really try to apply the things that we were watching in the meeting rooms and with he stops all 2023 tapes.
“Last year he had to do that and then it would be frustrating for him because he couldn’t work on it, he just had to visualize it and think about it and he had to wait for that opportunity in training camp. It was amazing for him to lead us through the entire off-season, just in terms of training and everything, it was great to have the first full off-season.
Last offseason, Purdy underwent grueling rehab and focused primarily on increasing his arm strength while trying to fine-tune his game as best as possible in preparation for his first full season as a starter. Now without wheels, Purdy can focus on the small adjustments who he believes can take his game to the next level.
“Yeah, I just think with the playbook and the plays and all that kind of stuff, it feels a little smoother, it registers in my mind a lot quicker,” Purdy told reporters. “So when I go there, I know what we’re doing. Now it’s ‘Where can I get the ball to the right guy faster?’ So just processing that kind of stuff helps the quarterback, obviously just continuing to work on arm strength and all that kind of stuff, but I think just the way you process it, the way you make the reads, you can’t . do enough reps.
“So that’s where I’m at, obviously watching game tape, practicing and now running these plays during OTAs for me is huge. Getting better with different concepts and getting more comfortable and familiar with the verbiage.”
Since Purdy’s job on the field is much easier this offseason, the young quarterback can make the most of his time off. Instead of rehabilitating himself, Purdy was able to take advantage spending time with your teammates and experience all the perks of being an NFL star quarterback.
“I think it’s huge, especially being in this area. Check it out, get a better sense of the Bay Area, what it has to offer, the people, everything,” Purdy shared. “It’s been fun being able to go out and explore and do different things. Last year, obviously, it was 24/7 rehab, go home, rest, get ready for the next day of rehab.
“So now obviously I go after it with my work and the mental with the playbook and the film and stuff, but on the weekends when the guys can get together and have fun together, it’s been refreshing. We all do business on the field, but to go out on the field and have those relationships, man, that’s something we’ll always have for the rest of our lives.”
