Mac Jones threw three touchdown passes as Brock Purdy’s replacement and the visiting San Francisco 49ers held off the New Orleans Saints 26-21 on Sunday afternoon.
Jones made his debut for the 49ers (2-0) in place of Purdy, who is sidelined by a toe injury, and completed 26 of 39 for 279 yards.
Spencer Rattler matched Jones’ three touchdown passes while completing 25 of 34 for 206 yards and Alvin Kamara rushed for 100 yards on 21 carries for the Saints (0-2).
On the first possession of the third quarter, Jones fumbled when hit by Chris Rumph II and Demario Davis recovered for New Orleans at the San Francisco 47. Ten plays later, Rattler threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Rashid Shaheed to trim the 49ers’ lead to 16-14.
San Francisco responded with a drive that ended with Eddy Pineiro’s 46-yard field goal for a 19-14 lead at the end of the third. After a Saints fumble, Jones connected with Jauan Jennings for a 42-yard score that made it 26-14.
Mac Jones to Jauan Jennings for the 42-yard TD!
SFvsNO on FOX/FOX Onehttps://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/oRKIHFajpv
— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2025
Rattler threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Devaughn Vele to get New Orleans within 26-21 with 6:18 remaining. The Saints got the ball back twice more, but didn’t threaten to score.
The Saints drove into scoring range on the game’s first possession, but Blake Grupe missed a 40-yard field goal — one week after he missed a 37-yarder in a loss to Arizona.
The 49ers drove 80 yards and Jones threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to tight end Luke Farrell, who started in place of injured George Kittle. Pineiro, signed to replace Jake Moody after Moody missed two kicks last week, missed the extra point, leaving San Francisco with a 6-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
Pineiro bounced back to kick a 40-yard field goal that increased the lead to 9-0 early in the second quarter.
Rattler drove the Saints 84 yards and threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Juwan Johnson to trim the lead to 9-7 with 1:14 left in the half. Jones responded with a 77-yard drive and a 7-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffery, which sent San Francisco into halftime with a 16-7 lead.
–Field Level Media
More San Francisco 49ers coverage on Sactown Sports
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy will be sidelined for 2-5 weeks with a “turf toe variant,” NFL Network reported Thursday.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Wednesday called Purdy a “long shot” to play Sunday at New Orleans due to injuries to his toe and left shoulder.
Former first-round draft pick Mac Jones is expected to replace Purdy and will make his 50th career start in Week 2 against the Saints.
“Mac knows how to play the position, sees the field well,” Shanahan said. “Tough guy. He’ll hang in there and deliver the ball where it needs to go.”
Read More:
Report: 49ers QB Brock Purdy (toe) out 2-5 weeks
Upcoming San Francisco 49ers Schedule
Sunday, September 21st – vs. Arizona Cardinals – 1:25 PM PT
Sunday, September 28th – vs. Jacksonville Jaguars – 1:05 PM PT
Thursday, October 2nd – @ Los Angeles Rams – 5:15 PM PT
Sunday, October 12th – @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers – 10:00 AM PT
Sunday, October 19th – vs. Atlanta Falcons – 5:20 PM PT
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