Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
49ers QB Brock Purdy Shows Benefits of Healthy Offseason Early in Training Camp
gvw_ap_news
By Associated Press
Published 8 months ago on
August 6, 2024

Quarterback Brock Purdy is taking full advantage of a healthy offseason to refine his game and emerge as a vocal leader for the San Francisco 49ers. (NFL)

Share

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

SANTA CLARA — Brock Purdy stayed on the field after a recent practice for some extra work, making throws on the run in hopes of improving his accuracy and timing in that aspect of his game.

The task may have seemed a bit mundane on the surface but points to a reason why the San Francisco 49ers believe that Purdy can build off his spectacular second season in the NFL thanks to having a healthy offseason when he didn’t need to limit his throws from his surgically repaired right elbow.

Purdy Takes Advantage of Full Health in Camp

“It’s completely different,” quarterbacks coach Brian Griese said Monday about this training camp for Purdy. “Last year I was just hoping that he was going to be healthy and we were taking whatever reps we could get. We were on a pitch count. So we’re every single period we had a certain number of throws, including warmups. It’s so nice this year to not be dealing with that. Second, that if we need to push it a little bit in a practice to work on something or to take five extra reps after a period, during a special teams period, we can do that. Post-practice he can get out there and throw on the move. It’s completely different.”

Purdy is taking full advantage of his full health as he has been able to participate in every practice this summer after taking regular days off a year ago and had time in the offseason to work on some smaller aspects of his job when he didn’t need to go through rehabilitation.

He bulked up a bit in hopes of having a stronger base in the pocket and spent more times on his mechanics, using 3D motion capture technology with his private coach to get more velocity on his throws.

Improved Arm Strength Evident in Camp

The improved arm strength has been evident in training camp where Purdy has done a good job hitting on more deep throws and throws outside the numbers.

With those throws, have come a few more interceptions than usual in practice — including seven in a two-day period last week. Purdy said he never likes throwing interceptions, even in practice, but sometimes tries to make throws there that he wouldn’t try in the season.

“Now’s the time to be trying out some stuff in terms of throwing some windows and some tight coverages and whatnot,” he said. “But you know, I still have to grow. I still have to be better and I’m hard on myself with it. But now’s the time to do it.”

Purdy Reflects on Super Bowl Loss, Seeks Growth

Purdy’s second NFL season exceeded all expectations as he set a franchise record for yards passing (4,280), became the first Niners QB in more than two decades to throw at least 30 TD passes (31), and led the league in both passer rating (113) and yards per attempt (9.6).

He finished fourth in MVP voting and led three go-ahead drives in the fourth quarter and overtime of the Super Bowl that the 49ers eventually lost to Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City.

But there’s one play that still haunted him in the offseason. It came late in regulation against the Chiefs, when his third down throw to Jauan Jennings against a blitz was tipped at the line when he had Brandon Aiyuk open on the play. That forced the 49ers to settle for a field goal and gave Kansas City time to drive for the tying score before winning in OT.

“It’s those plays and those moments that’s situational football,” he said. “That’s where I can grow. So that’s what I mean by like, there’s certain plays like that where I’m like, ‘dang.'”

One other area of growth Purdy is seeking is in becoming a more vocal leader. After stepping into a veteran lineup as a seventh-round rookie in 2022 and just trying to get healthy last season, Purdy is now established as a proven star.

That has helped him develop from a player sometimes timid to call teammates out to one taking charge of the huddle in a development Griese has been pushing for all offseason.

“Brock’s a reserved guy, which I think the team appreciates about him. But then there’s also times where you need to push the issue a little bit,” Griese said. “You need to be accountable to yourself, but also hold others accountable during the course of an individual period, a practice, a game, a low point in the season where you lose back-to-back games. That’s a skill that you need as a leader of a team. For a young quarterback, sometimes that’s difficult. Now, Brock in his third year has not only the experience, but also, the positivity and the results to warrant that a little bit more. Guys look to him. He has been a leader, despite the fact that he is not always the most vocal.”

RELATED TOPICS:

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

22 Miles on Foot, 10 Minutes on a Tram: An ‘Extraordinary’ Day Hike

DON'T MISS

Bakersfield to Host Sanders and AOC in ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ Event

DON'T MISS

Jaguar and Land Rover Maker Pauses Shipments to US as It Develops Post-Tariff Plans

DON'T MISS

China Hit Brakes on TikTok Deal After Trump Announced Wide-Ranging Tariffs

DON'T MISS

Shohei Ohtani Throws Second Bullpen Since Resuming Mound Ramp Up

DON'T MISS

Visalia Traffic Stop Nets $30K in Xanax, Marijuana

DON'T MISS

Fresno Joins Global Protest Against Donald Trump and Elon Musk

DON'T MISS

2 US Border Inspectors Charged With Taking Bribes to Wave in People Without Documents

DON'T MISS

The Latest: Trump’s Tariffs Unleash Trade War and Calls for Negotiations

DON'T MISS

Phone Footage Appears to Contradict Israel’s Account in Troops’ Killing of 15 Palestinian Medics

UP NEXT

Bakersfield to Host Sanders and AOC in ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ Event

UP NEXT

Jaguar and Land Rover Maker Pauses Shipments to US as It Develops Post-Tariff Plans

UP NEXT

China Hit Brakes on TikTok Deal After Trump Announced Wide-Ranging Tariffs

UP NEXT

Shohei Ohtani Throws Second Bullpen Since Resuming Mound Ramp Up

UP NEXT

Visalia Traffic Stop Nets $30K in Xanax, Marijuana

UP NEXT

Fresno Joins Global Protest Against Donald Trump and Elon Musk

UP NEXT

2 US Border Inspectors Charged With Taking Bribes to Wave in People Without Documents

UP NEXT

The Latest: Trump’s Tariffs Unleash Trade War and Calls for Negotiations

UP NEXT

Phone Footage Appears to Contradict Israel’s Account in Troops’ Killing of 15 Palestinian Medics

UP NEXT

Trump and Netanyahu to Discuss Gaza Crisis and Tariffs at Upcoming Meeting

China Hit Brakes on TikTok Deal After Trump Announced Wide-Ranging Tariffs

18 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani Throws Second Bullpen Since Resuming Mound Ramp Up

18 hours ago

Visalia Traffic Stop Nets $30K in Xanax, Marijuana

19 hours ago

Fresno Joins Global Protest Against Donald Trump and Elon Musk

19 hours ago

2 US Border Inspectors Charged With Taking Bribes to Wave in People Without Documents

21 hours ago

The Latest: Trump’s Tariffs Unleash Trade War and Calls for Negotiations

21 hours ago

Phone Footage Appears to Contradict Israel’s Account in Troops’ Killing of 15 Palestinian Medics

22 hours ago

Trump and Netanyahu to Discuss Gaza Crisis and Tariffs at Upcoming Meeting

22 hours ago

Trump Doubles Down That Tariffs Will Pay Off for Americans

22 hours ago

Senate GOP Approves Trump’s Tax Breaks and Spending Cuts After Late-Night Session

23 hours ago

22 Miles on Foot, 10 Minutes on a Tram: An ‘Extraordinary’ Day Hike

The steep trail near the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was covered in inches of spongy fallen needles and peppered with ankle-twist...

55 minutes ago

55 minutes ago

22 Miles on Foot, 10 Minutes on a Tram: An ‘Extraordinary’ Day Hike

17 hours ago

Bakersfield to Host Sanders and AOC in ‘Fighting Oligarchy’ Event

17 hours ago

Jaguar and Land Rover Maker Pauses Shipments to US as It Develops Post-Tariff Plans

18 hours ago

China Hit Brakes on TikTok Deal After Trump Announced Wide-Ranging Tariffs

18 hours ago

Shohei Ohtani Throws Second Bullpen Since Resuming Mound Ramp Up

A Visalia traffic stop on Friday, April 4, 2025, for tinted windows led to the arrest of a 22-year-old man after police found $30,000 worth of Xanax pills and a pound of marijuana in his vehicle. (Visalia PD)
19 hours ago

Visalia Traffic Stop Nets $30K in Xanax, Marijuana

19 hours ago

Fresno Joins Global Protest Against Donald Trump and Elon Musk

21 hours ago

2 US Border Inspectors Charged With Taking Bribes to Wave in People Without Documents

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend