The 49ers’ brass highly suspected it last night.

Brock Purdy did, too.

The black shooting sleeve on his arm wasn’t going to hide what was happening with Purdy’s elbow. His ulnar collateral ligament — the one that connects the ulna and the humerus — is torn.

An MRI confirmed it Monday, and while Purdy reportedly is seeking second opinions, there’s no circumstance where his first fully-professional offseason isn’t spent rehabbing from Tommy John surgery to repair — if not to replace — the tendon.

Purdy was set to be the 49ers’ starter next season. While he’s expected to be back for training camp, there are no guarantees in this world. His injury opens the door for another quarterback.

The top names that will be tied to the Niners are Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers. The rumor mill started churning during last night’s game.

But I don’t think the door is open enough for either of the Northern California natives to step into the Niners’ quarterback room.

But do you know who’s already in that room? Trey Lance.

The former first-round pick has been given an incredible opportunity to rebuild his reputation as the 49ers’ quarterback of the future.

Well, the future is now. Lance inhabits a strange space. He wasn’t given a full run, so he had not proven himself good or bad. Purdy, meanwhile, has played twice as many games, but he showed far more than Lance in his eight games at the helm of the offense.

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