Mac Jones stole the spotlight on Thursday Night Football, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a gritty 26-23 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams. Thrust into the starter role, Jones completed 33 of 49 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns, engineering the game-winning OT drive while battling through bruises and a limp.
After the game Jones gave a candid take on Purdy’s status. “I think they brought me here to play as a backup and that’s my job,” he said. “Brock’s the starter of this team and right now he’s dealing with something. For him to go out there last week and play when you know he probably wasn’t at full health, he cares about this team. So I’m just trying to get some wins for him.”
Mac Jones on if Brock Purdy is the starting quarterback for the 49ers:
“They brought me here to play as a backup and that’s my job. Brock’s the starter of this team. Right now he’s dealing with something and for him to go out last week and play when you probably know he’s not at… pic.twitter.com/lsS2u6lJYS
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) October 3, 2025
Purdy’s injury history this season has been a rolling concern. He suffered toe and shoulder issues in Week 1 against the Seahawks, missed Weeks 2 and 3 with a turf-toe variant, then returned for Week 4 versus Jacksonville. In that comeback he threw 309 yards, two TDs and two INTs, but reported soreness and did not practice before the short-week TNF, landing him back on the sideline.
No firm timetable exists, but reports suggest the 49ers hope extra rest helps. With a 10-day mini-bye before the Buccaneers game on October 12, Purdy could return by October 19 against the Falcons or, if recovery is slower, by October 25 versus the Texans.
Brock Purdy: Mac Jones:
– 2 games – 2.5 games
– 586 Yards – 723 yards
– 2 TDS – 6 TDS
– 2 INTS – 1 INT
– 85.8 Passer RTG – 111 Passer RTG pic.twitter.com/c3VuieNoLv
— Polymarket Football (@PolymarketBlitz) October 3, 2025
His calm pocket presence and decision-making have earned praise from coaches, teammates and media alike.
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