49ers coach Shanahan ‘content material’ with Purdy, Lance as prime 2 QBs for 2023

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan is “content material” going into subsequent season with Brock Purdy and Trey Lance as the highest two quarterbacks for the 49ers even after each head into the offseason rehabilitating main accidents.

Purdy might be sidelined till coaching camp with an elbow harm suffered within the NFC championship recreation, whereas Lance remains to be recovering from a second operation on his damaged proper ankle however is predicted to be prepared for the offseason program.

However that uncertainty doesn’t imply the 49ers are on the lookout for a veteran choice to compete because the starter on one of many NFL’s most proficient rosters.

“I do know we’ve got two starters on our workforce proper now that I imagine we will win with, so when you have got that state of affairs, you’re not that desperate to go searching round,” Shanahan mentioned Wednesday.

Lance started the season because the starter however acquired damage early in his second recreation. He has thrown solely 102 passes in two seasons within the NFL after San Francisco traded three first-round picks to draft him third total in 2021.

Purdy got here in with a lot much less fanfare because the final decide within the 2022 draft however shined late within the season after Lance’s alternative, Jimmy Garoppolo, went down with a damaged foot.

Purdy received his first seven begins earlier than shedding 31-7 to Philadelphia within the NFC championship recreation. Purdy damage his elbow on the opening drive and returned to play the second half in an emergency though he couldn’t throw the ball various yards due to a torn ligament in his proper elbow.

Purdy remains to be looking for further opinions on his therapy choices, however the more than likely state of affairs is a restore to the elbow that might permit him to be again earlier than the beginning of subsequent season.

“He’s persevering with to undergo that course of,” basic supervisor John Lynch mentioned. “I believe the constructive bit of stories is that it appears to be constant that the appropriate strategy is that one which takes about that six-month mark.”

Below that state of affairs, Purdy would have the ability to begin a throwing program in about three months and be again to his previous self effectively earlier than the beginning of subsequent season.

“He (can be) the identical dude and full go, in order that was essentially the most encouraging half that I heard,” Shanahan mentioned.

Shanahan mentioned he wasn’t centered at this level on who would go into coaching camp because the starter and wasn’t frightened about one other offseason of questions at quarterback after coping with these the previous few years.

“I don’t suppose there’s a lot to deal with,” he mentioned. “One man can’t go and the opposite man must be prepared for OTAs.”

One quarterback not in San Francisco’s plans is Garoppolo, who began 55 video games over the previous six seasons for the Niners. Garoppolo returned this season as a shock on a decreased contract when offseason shoulder surgical procedure damage his commerce market.

When requested a few potential Garoppolo return for 2023, Shanahan mentioned: “I don’t see any state of affairs of that.”

In different information:

— Shanahan mentioned he has began on the lookout for a brand new defensive coordinator after DeMeco Ryans was employed as head coach in Houston. He mentioned he’s on the lookout for somebody who can run an analogous protection that Ryans did and needs to maintain as lots of his defensive assistants as potential.

“I’m hoping to search out somebody who suits with us personality-wise and scheme sensible,” he mentioned.

— Shanahan mentioned two of his assistants have been requested for offensive coordinator interviews. Niners passing recreation coordinator Bobby Slowik will interview in Houston. Working backs coach Anthony Lynn is a candidate in Washington.

— Lynch mentioned he plans to return for a seventh season as basic supervisor. He was provided a broadcasting job final offseason by Amazon, however stays centered on successful a Tremendous Bowl with the 49ers.

“I’m dedicated to doing this and I’m having a good time doing it and dedicated to discovering a solution to get a bit bit higher,” he mentioned.

— Lynch mentioned locking up All-Professional defensive finish Nick Bosa with a long-term deal is a precedence. He expects to get it accomplished, however lots of San Francisco’s big-ticket extensions haven’t gotten finalized till July.

“It takes time, it takes persistence, it takes persistence, and we’ll have that on our aspect,” Lynch mentioned.