In somewhat of a surprise, 49ers general manager John Lynch said there’s optimism quarterback Brock Purdy’s recovery from elbow surgery will allow him to participate when training camp begins in four months.

“Our hope is he’s ready to go for training camp,” Lynch told reporters Monday at the NFL owners’ meetings in Phoenix.

“We’ll see how everything goes. We’re going to do what’s right for Brock, because that’s right for our organization,” Lynch added. “You know, be aggressive with what we do but also be really smart. We’re insulated with other guys we have a lot of belief in, so if Brock’s not ready, we’ll hold down the fort until he is.”

Purdy is the 49ers’ presumptive starting quarterback once he is healthy.

Lynch told reporters Purdy is expected to serve as this coming season’s starter, based on last season’s efforts.

“Brock has earned the right, with the way he played, that he’s probably the leader in the clubhouse at that,” Lynch added Monday. “I’ll let (coach) Kyle (Shanahan) make those kind of decisions. But I know when we talk, Brock’s probably earned that right to be that guy, if we were to line up, he’d probably take that first snap.”

The only question is when Purdy’s right elbow will be healed enough to participate in practice and games.

Purdy is only 17 days removed from a career-saving procedure in which an internal brace repaired the torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.

He’s not expected to resume throwing a football for three months. Full clearance is not expected until six months, which would extend his timeline into September, potentially aligning with the 49ers’ regular-season opener on Sept. 10 or 11.

Even if the team hopes Purdy can compete with Trey Lance and Sam Darnold by training camp, it would be surprising if the 49ers rush Purdy, who burst onto the NFL season as a rookie by winning seven games upon replacing Jimmy Garoppolo before ultimately getting hurt early in the NFC Championship Game loss at Philadelphia.

Purdy’s surgery was postponed from Feb. 22 to March 10, because of persistent swelling in his elbow. That is a telling example that the 49ers will take a cautious approach to his recovery, rather than fast-track him into a camp competition.

— Cam Inman

49ers sign veteran tackle >> Offensive tackle Matt Pryor, a fifth-year veteran, signed a one-year deal, the 49ers announced. Pryor has started 24 of 60 games played in his career, which began as a 2018 sixth-round pick of the Eagles before they traded him in 2021 to the Indianapolis Colts.

Colton McKivitz is the favorite to take over at right tackle in place of Mike McGlinchey, who signed this month with the Denver Broncos. Pryor could compete for that role with McKivitz and Jaylon Moore. Pryor allowed six sacks and 31 pressures in 388 pass-blocking snaps last season, according to ProFootballFocus.com.

Jackson asks Ravens for trade >> Lamar Jackson said he has requested a trade from the Baltimore Ravens, saying the team “has not been interested in meeting my value.”

In a series of tweets, the star quarterback said he requested a trade as of March 2. On March 7, the Ravens put the nonexclusive franchise tag on Jackson and said they were still hopeful they could reach a long-term deal.

“As of March 2nd I requested a trade from the Ravens organization for which the Ravens has not been interested in meeting my value,” Jackson said on Twitter. “Any and everyone that’s has met me or been around me know I love the game of football and my dream is to help a team win the super bowl.”

Jackson may not need a trade to join a new team. The nonexclusive franchise tag allows him to negotiate with other clubs. However, it also gives Baltimore a chance to match any agreement he makes. If Jackson makes a deal with another team and the Ravens don’t match, they’d get two first-round draft picks.

Men’s soccer

U.S. edges El Salvador in Nations League >> Ricardo Pepi scored on his first touch of the match in the 62nd minute, and the United States beat El Salvador 1-0 in Orlando, Fla. to reach the CONCACAF Nations League semifinals.

College basketball

Terry to become Texas’ coach >> Texas reached an agreement with Rodney Terry to be the Longhorns’ full-time head coach, taking the interim tag off his title after he led the program to the Elite Eight following the midseason firing of Chris Beard, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press.

Texas was knocked out of the NCAA Tournament by Miami on Sunday, ending its longest postseason run since 2008.

Terry took over the Longhorns as acting head coach when Beard was first suspended on Dec. 12 after a felony domestic violence arrest.

Tennis

Alcaraz advances in Miami Open >> Top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz of Spain beat Dusan Lajovic of Serbia 6-0, 7-6 (5) and will face American Tommy Paul today in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Paul and fellow American No. 10 Taylor Fritz advanced.

Bianca Andreescu of Canada — the 2019 U.S. Open champion — beat 2020 Australian Open winner Sofia Kenin of the United States 6-4, 6-4.

Barbora Krejcikova of the Czech Republic beat American Madison Keys 7-6 (4), 6-3.

On the men’s side, Botic van de Zandschulp of the Netherlands outlasted world No. 4 Casper Ruud of Norway 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Paul beat Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain 6-3, 7-5, helped by eight aces. Fritz defeated Denis Shapovalov of Canada 6-4, 6-4. Fritz will face world No. 8 Holger Rune of Denmark, who defeated Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-4, 6-2.

Also, Quentin Halys of France eliminated Piedmont’s Mackenzie McDonald 7-6 (7), 6-3.

College swimming

Cal’s Durden wins coaching award >> For the seventh time in his career and second consecutive year, Cal head coach David Durden has been named the NCAA Men’s Coach of the Year by the College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA).

The award comes two days after Durden led the Golden Bears to their eighth all-time national championship and sixth in his 16-year tenure as Cal’s head coach. The Bears also won team titles in 2011, ’12, ’14, ’19, ’21, and ’22 while finishing among the top two teams at 13 consecutive national meets dating back to 2010.