49ers coach Shanahan ‘content material’ with Purdy, Lance as high 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 may very well 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 anticipated to be prepared for the offseason program.

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

“I do know we now have two starters on our crew proper now that I consider we are able to win with, so when you’ve got that scenario, you’re not that desirous to go searching round,” Shanahan stated Wednesday.

Lance started the season because the starter however acquired harm 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 general in 2021.

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

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

Purdy remains to be searching for further opinions on his remedy choices, however the almost certainly state of affairs is a restore to the elbow that will permit him to be again earlier than the beginning of subsequent season.

“He’s persevering with to undergo that course of,” common supervisor John Lynch stated. “I feel the optimistic bit of stories is that it appears to be constant that the best strategy is that one which takes about that six-month mark.”

Underneath that state of affairs, Purdy would be capable 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 (could be) the identical dude and full go, in order that was probably the most encouraging half that I heard,” Shanahan stated.

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

“I don’t assume there’s a lot to deal with,” he stated. “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 diminished contract when offseason shoulder surgical procedure harm his commerce market.

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

In different information:

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

“I’m hoping to search out somebody who matches with us personality-wise and scheme smart,” he stated.

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

— Lynch stated he plans to return for a seventh season as common supervisor. He was supplied a broadcasting job final offseason by Amazon, however stays targeted 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 option to get a bit bit higher,” he stated.

— Lynch stated 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 endurance, it takes persistence, and we’ll have that on our aspect,” Lynch stated.