Perhaps it'll be a good thing the San Francisco 49ers opted to sign a former first-round NFL Draft pick, quarterback Mac Jones, as a backup to Brock Purdy last offseason.
After all, Jones isn't exactly inexperienced, and there's no shortage of analysts and pundits who felt the Alabama product was head coach Kyle Shanahan's preferred target back in 2021 when the Niners traded up to No. 3 overall, ultimately opting to draft quarterback Trey Lance instead.
In the wake of Purdy's surprising turf-toe injury, suffered in San Francisco's Week 1 road victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Jones is now poised to get the start for Shanahan and Co. in Week 2's bout against the New Orleans Saints.
And many fans are probably feeling similar sentiments as the one and only @ninergirl99:
#fttb https://t.co/zfQbCTI11V pic.twitter.com/qtRSMcTLYS
— Alyce (@Ninergirl99) September 12, 2025
Shanahan originally left a little bit of room for Purdy to play in Week 2, albeit telling reporters it was "a long shot." And the subsequent reports coming out of Santa Clara don't exactly paint the grimmest of pictures, effectively saying the quarterback's recovery timeline is on the shorter side of the aforementioned two to five weeks.
But, according to Shanahan's final Week 2 injury report, Purdy's recovery won't be short enough.
49ers officially rule Brock Purdy (toe) OUT for Week 2 vs. Saints
Speaking to reporters following Friday's practice ahead of the road trip to NOLA, Shanahan officially declared Purdy out for Sunday's tilt.
Here's the full injury report for Week 2 from the head coach:
Out
QB Brock Purdy (toe)
Questionable
WR Jauan Jennings (shoulder)
OT Trent Williams (knee)
Purdy's absence greenlights Jones to get his first start for the Niners, one that's awfully early in the season and only reinforces the hard reality of Shanahan's squad dealing with far too many injuries far too soon.
Granted, the former New England Patriots draft bust might actually succeed in a quarterback-friendly system, and there are key bits of evidence to suggest he might be just fine in Shanahan's offense, albeit one that's shorthanded at the skill positions.
And it also doesn't hurt when considering New Orleans isn't anticipated to be an elite front-runner in 2025, meaning Jones and Co. can attempt to take full advantage of a rebuilding Saints squad.
Still, it'd be a far better situation if Purdy was healthy enough to play.
He's not, however, meaning those who wondered back in 2021 what Jones might look like under Shanahan in a meaningful contest will finally get that question answered, for better or for worse.
The Niners and Saints kick off on Sunday, Sept. 14 at 1 p.m. ET in New Orleans, Louisiana.