Mac Jones Emerges as San Francisco 49ers Starter While Purdy Recoveres

Former New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones is making the most of his opportunity with the San Francisco 49ers, emerging as the starting quarterback for their Week 6 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Brock Purdy's injuries (toe and shoulder) have opened the door for Jones to take over, and his recent performance backs that up. Since taking over in Week 2, Jones has led the 49ers to a 3-0 record, with 905 passing yards, 6 touchdowns, 1 interception, and a 99.1 rating.

In his last game, a thrilling overtime win against the Rams on October 2, he passed for 342 yards and two touchdowns, showing a sense of synchronization with Kyle Shanahan's offensive scheme. Despite a minor knee (PCL) and oblique injury suffered against the Rams, Jones was a limited participant in Thursday's practice and is expected to be ready for Sunday. "I feel confident, just working day to day with the medical team," Jones said. Shanahan, for his part, expressed optimism about his availability. Jones' future in San Francisco is uncertain. Although Purdy remains the franchise quarterback with a $265 million contract, Jones' performance has sparked trade speculation before the November 4 deadline, with teams like the Jets, Bengals, and Saints showing interest. For now, the 49ers (4-1) are relying on Jones to keep the momentum going while Purdy recovers.