How Should the 49ers Manage Brock Purdy in the Preseason?

Brock Purdy has been integrated slowly in training camp, which makes it curious as to how the 49ers will manage him in the preseason.

Brock Purdy has been on a fairly light schedule at 49ers training camp.

All of the first team reps are being given to him as expected, but he is only participating in no more than two consecutive practices. The 49ers do not want him to be overworked right at the start of camp. It isn't an indefinite schedule that he is on as he will be reassessed at the end of the week or so to determine if they can increase his workload. 

Slowly integrating Purdy is the right call as the 49ers have to be cautious with him. However, this makes it curious as to how the 49ers will manage Purdy in the preseason. The first preseason game is on Aug. 13 against the Raiders in Las Vegas. You have to wonder if Purdy plays just a series, and that is assuming he even does play. The 49ers might deem that game for it to be too soon for him to play in because they have to be comfortable with him taking hits. 

So, how should the 49ers manage Purdy in the preseason?

I don't think he plays that first preseason game against the Raiders. I fully expect it to be only Trey Lance, Sam Darnold, and Brandon Allen playing. This gives the 49ers two benefits. The first one is that they hold off on risking Purdy too soon for at least another week. The second benefit is they can get adequate looks at the other three quarterbacks. Holding onto four quarterbacks is not feasible for the 49ers. One of these players has to go, so that first preseason game can give the 49ers more information to decide on that, which should inevitably be Allen. 

Prior to the first preseason game, the 49ers will have two joint practices with the Raiders in the lead up for it. Purdy will either play in both of them or just one. That will be more than enough looks for the 49ers than to put him in the first preseason game. Where Purdy will make his debut is in the second game against the Broncos on Aug. 19. More time will have passed to gain improved comfortability in Purdy being out in live action. That game I would expect him to get two-to-three series.

The final game of the preseason against the Chargers on Aug. 25, generally know as the dress rehearsal game, is where I expect Purdy to get at least one quarter of playing time. I believe this is how the 49ers will manage his preseason because it is all a slowly integrated and cautious process. It stays the course to how they have treated him in training camp thus far, so I would not expect any different when the preseason rolls along. Expect Kyle Shanahan to clear up his plan for Purdy as the first preseason game draws closer.