Brock Purdy upbeat on Australia trip

Brock Purdy struck an upbeat note this week about the San Francisco 49ers’ trip to Australia, even as coach Kyle Shanahan has been less enthusiastic about the logistics of sending a team overseas. Purdy said he was trying to stay positive about the assignment, according to reporting cited Friday by The Athletic and other 49ers outlets. The trip is no small one: San Francisco is scheduled to play the Los Angeles Rams on Sept. 11 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Australia. The timing matters because the 49ers are about to return to the practice field. Organized team activities are scheduled for next Wednesday through Friday, The Athletic reported, giving Purdy and Shanahan their next public checkpoint of the offseason. That makes the Australia comments part of a larger spring story around how San Francisco is preparing its quarterback, its schedule and its offense for 2026. (msn.com) ### Why is the Australia game getting so much attention? March 26 is when the NFL announced the date and time for the Melbourne game, saying the Rams and 49ers would meet on Friday, Sept. 11, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. The league called it the first regular-season NFL game in Australia, with kickoff set for approximately 10:35 a.m. AEST, or Thursday night in the United States. (49erswebzone.com) Feb. 5 is when the 49ers first confirmed they would be part of the Melbourne matchup. The club said the game would be played in partnership with the Victorian State Government and Visit Victoria, underscoring that the trip is both a football event and a major international showcase. ### What exactly did Purdy say about it? Friday’s reporting described Purdy as trying to keep a positive outlook on the trip, rather than dwelling on the travel burden. (media.nfl.com) That stance contrasts with Shanahan’s more skeptical comments about long-haul international scheduling, but Purdy’s public posture was to frame it constructively. (49ers.com) The difference in tone is notable mostly because Purdy is now one of the 49ers’ central public voices. As the starting quarterback, his comments on travel, preparation and routine carry more weight than they would have earlier in his career. That shift has become more visible this offseason as teammates and local media focus on his command of the offense. (msn.com) ### How has Purdy’s role with Shanahan changed? Kyle Juszczyk said this week that Purdy’s relationship with Shanahan has evolved as Purdy has gained experience. In comments carried by 49ers Webzone, Juszczyk said Purdy has become more confident in communicating what he likes, what he sees and how he wants concepts adjusted within Shanahan’s system. (nbcsportsbayarea.com) Juszczyk said that growth has helped the offense. NBC Sports Bay Area, citing Juszczyk’s appearance on “The Rich Eisen Show,” reported that the fullback described a quarterback who is now speaking up more and operating with greater ownership after four seasons in San Francisco. ### Why do next week’s OTAs matter? (49erswebzone.com) Next Wednesday through Friday is the next scheduled on-field window for San Francisco’s offseason program. OTAs are limited practices, but they give reporters and coaches their first broad look at timing, communication and installation work before training camp. For Purdy, those sessions will offer the next chance to show how that expanded communication with Shanahan looks on the field. (nbcsportsbayarea.com) For the 49ers, they are the next formal step before a season that will include a Sept. 11 opener against the Rams in Melbourne and another international game in Mexico City later in 2026. (49erswebzone.com 1) (49erswebzone.com 2)