SANTA CLARA, Calif. — After getting ready all week to be with out beginning quarterback Brock Purdy for Sunday’s sport towards the Saints, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan made it official Friday, asserting that Purdy is not going to play in New Orleans and veteran Mac Jones will begin in his place.
“[Mac] has been superior,” Shanahan stated. “The identical this week as he has been all camp. Our workforce actually believes in him, our workforce actually enjoys him, and he did a hell of a job this week in observe.”
Purdy didn’t observe this week due to left shoulder and toe accidents that he suffered in final week’s win towards the Seattle Seahawks. Shanahan has indicated that the toe damage — which is analogous to turf toe — is the larger concern for Purdy and that it might preserve him out for a number of weeks. Niners normal supervisor John Lynch advised KNBR radio Thursday that Purdy’s damage is taken into account week-to-week.
“Brock is doing effectively,” Lynch advised KNBR. “He is doing a pleasant job, doing every thing he can to get again on the market as quickly as attainable. … However that is the place we’re at, on a week-to-week deal.”
With Purdy unavailable to observe, Jones took all of the reps with the beginning offense Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. He’ll make his first begin with the Niners after signing a two-year, $7 million deal in March.
Jones, the No. 15 decide of the New England Patriots within the 2021 NFL draft, began seven video games for the Jacksonville Jaguars final season, throwing eight touchdowns and eight interceptions and ending with a career-low QBR of 36.6. After a strong rookie season for the Patriots (56.9 QBR), he had two tough years (QBRs of 38.4 and 37.5), which led to his commerce to Jacksonville.
After arriving in San Francisco, Jones considered backing up Purdy as a chance to reset his profession in Shanahan’s offense, just like Sam Darnold in 2023.
“[I’ve] been lucky to form of play a whole lot of completely different roles, and on the finish of the day, your job as a quarterback is to both hand it off or throw it,” Jones stated. “That is how easy I will preserve it, and that is once I play my greatest and when I’ve a low pulse and form of simply go on the market and undergo my reads. Clearly, have that depth and focus, however actually go on the market, whether or not you are backup or starter, and whether or not you play the primary play or not, you have to be able to play and have your system that works for you. I am very assured in that, and I put a whole lot of work into that this offseason.”
In keeping with teammates and coaches, Jones had a robust offseason and coaching camp earlier than a gentle knee sprain within the second preseason sport towards the Las Vegas Raiders.
“Mac’s been actually spectacular since he walked within the door, simply the best way he is form of been open to the teaching and open to studying what we do right here and the best way we coach quarterbacks,” offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak stated. “He purchased in from Day 1, and you have seen the expansion.”
With Purdy out this week, the 49ers are planning to raise observe squad quarterback Adrian Martinez to the energetic roster to be Jones’ backup. Martinez entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2023, spending time with the Detroit Lions and New York Jets over the previous two years.
Martinez has not performed in an NFL sport however was elevated from the Jets’ observe squad to function a backup towards the Minnesota Vikings final yr.
“He has been good these two weeks, studying each these sport plans,” Shanahan stated. “This week, he obtained probably the most reps that he has obtained, at the very least with the scout workforce. We’re engaged on every thing with him after observe, however we would must see him within the sport. I am snug with him moving into and executing. I’ve actually appreciated him right here these first two weeks. If it involves that, we’ll be able to go, although.”
The 49ers are additionally coping with different accidents. Tight finish George Kittle landed on injured reserve due to a hamstring damage earlier within the week, and extensive receiver Jauan Jennings (shoulder) and left sort out Trent Williams (knee) are questionable after lacking observe Wednesday and Thursday earlier than performing some work in Friday’s lighter session.
Williams and Jennings labored on a aspect area Thursday despite the fact that they did not observe and appeared to be trending in the proper path.
