San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch last spoke with reporters on February 1, during the end-of-season press conference held with head coach Kyle Shanahan. He'll speak with reporters again on Tuesday at 11 a.m. Pacific Time, this time at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
The 49ers' starting quarterback situation and the team's plans for the 2023 NFL Draft will likely be the hot topics. Brock Purdy's surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) tear in his right elbow has been postponed, likely until March. While the quarterback will require about six months to recover fully, he could begin throwing again three months after the procedure in controlled situations.
Of course, that depends on what Dr. Keith Meister finds once the surgery begins. Dr. Meister may opt to perform a ligament reconstruction rather than a repair to go along with the internal brace that will be inserted, no matter the option. That could extend Purdy's recovery time.
In the meantime, Trey Lance is on the road to recovery and is expected to be full-go by May for organized team activities (OTAs).
As for the draft, the 49ers lack a first- or second-round selection. Their first pick comes in the third round, and the team could own as many 11 selections once compensatory picks are officially announced.
Shanahan isn't expected to attend the NFL Scouting Combine. The coach and his staff didn't attend last year either, opting to remain in Santa Clara.
"The great thing about what we've learned over the last couple years is when we're interviewing players, those respective coaches and coordinators and Kyle will get on the Zooms," Lynch said last year of Shanahan's decision to skip the annual event. "And so even though they aren't here, they are here, and we talk every night, and we talk every morning, so communication is good."
