49ers GM John Lynch Discusses His Team’s QB Battle and OTAs

San Francisco 49ers General Manager John Lynch recently made an appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday (May 31), where he delved into various topics surrounding the team’s quarterback situation and their offseason activities.

Listen to the full interview via the SXM App

When asked about the much-discussed quarterback battle, Lynch acknowledged that there is always competition within the team. He emphasized the impressive performance of quarterback Brock Purdy last year and the need to determine whether it was a flash in the pan or the real deal. Lynch praised Purdy’s ability to make plays both within and outside the system.

“Yeah, I think that there’s always competition. I do think, we said it earlier this year with the way Brock came in and played, last year, you look back and is it a flash in the pan or is it the real deal as we’ve gone back and studied it,” Lynch said. “He played at a high, high level… and showed tremendous playmaking ability… showed a tremendous ability to push the ball downfield.”

Later, Lynch addressed concerns about Purdy’s recovery timeline and emphasized the importance of hitting the necessary milestones. He lauded Purdy’s work ethic and shared the team’s optimism for his return. However, Lynch also stressed that they would prioritize the player’s well-being and not rush him back before he is fully healed and ready to contribute effectively.

“He’s hitting all his markers and it doesn’t surprise us because he’s putting in the work,” Lynch said. “We’re not gonna do anything to put Brock in a situation where he’s not fully healed… so, we’ll take it as it comes, as we’re doing [and] he’s working incredibly hard. The early returns are really good.”

Lynch also discussed the positive progress of Trey Lance, who has been recovering from a broken ankle. He commended Lance’s determination and highlighted his offseason work. Furthermore, the GM expressed confidence in the team’s decision to bring in Sam Darnold to provide additional competition and structure. The 49ers’ GM emphasized that the quarterback position is one they feel good about holistically.

“He’s had a really, really quality offseason, we still remain very high on Trey,” expressed Lynch. “We wanted to bring in some more competition, we brought in Sam, and Sam’s really taken to the coaching and the the structure that we can give him.” Lynch continued, “So, at the end of the day, we feel really good about that position… we think Brock probably is the leader in the clubhouse, as we said, but it will be open for competition and it’s those guys’ opportunity to go in, earn that job.”

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