Asked on Thursday why he hadn’t been throwing the football at the San Francisco 49ers’ practices, quarterback Mac Jones said he was saving up for Sunday.
Actually, the former Alabama All-American was dealing with knee and oblique injuries and carried a questionable designation on his playing status entering Sunday’s contest against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
But Jones played against the Bucs, making his fourth start for Brock Purdy, the 49ers’ No. 1 QB who is dealing with a toe injury. Against Tampa Bay, Jones completed 27-of-39 passes for 347 yards as he turned in consecutive 300-yard passing performances for the first time in his NFL career.
But where Jones’ 342-yard performance in Week 5’s 26-23 overtime victory against the Los Angeles Rams came with two touchdowns and no interceptions, the Week 6 showing included no touchdowns and two interceptions and ended in a 30-19 loss to Tampa Bay – the first for San Francisco with Jones at quarterback.
The Buccaneers also sacked Jones six times after the Rams did so only once.
On San Francisco’s third snap of the game, Jones had a miscommunication with wide receiver Kendrick Bourne, and his pass ended up in the hands of Tampa Bay cornerback Kindle Vildor. Starting at the 49ers 12-yard line, it took the Bucs two snaps to reach the end zone for the game’s first points.
Trailing by eight points with 5:52 to play, San Francisco went for it on fourth-and-5 at the Tampa Bay 33-yard line, and former Auburn standout Jamel Dean intercepted Jones’ long pass at the Bucs 14. The 49ers didn’t get the ball back until Tampa Bay had added a field goal to its lead and 1:55 remained in the game.
“I thought Mac did a pretty good job,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I thought that last turnover, the last pick was a tough one. On the first one of the game, we were hot on a blitz, and we didn’t get the right adjustment. He’s got to throw that, and we had a bust on the route. I don’t put that one on him. Thought he did some good things today.
“But nothing on him. It was on everyone collectively. Made too many mistakes offensively, defensively. Just not good enough.”
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In a game between 4-1 teams, Jones opened the second quarter with a 56-yard completion to Bourne to launch a 10-play, 84-yard touchdown drive that put San Francisco ahead 10-7.
Before the end of the half, the 49ers added two field goals. But Tampa Bay scored two touchdowns to take the lead for good.
San Francisco’s chance to go back in front on the first possession of the second half was short-circuited by an offensive pass interference penalty with the 49ers on the Tampa Bay 15-yard line. The resulting field goal, which pulled the 49ers within a point of the lead, turned out to be San Francisco’s final score of the game.
Linebacker Lavonte David sacked Jones on third-and-11 from the Bucs 39 on the 49ers’ next possession, and the two remaining series for the San Francisco offense started with sacks.
“We had a chance at the end,” Jones said, “and that’s what it comes down to in the NFL. And it didn’t go our way today, but it just wasn’t our day. And honestly, it’s early in the year. We’re not a bad football team, and we just need to flip the switch and get ready for next week and get some guys back and be positive about it honestly.”
Jones downplayed his injuries after the game.
“I mean, I feel good,” Jones said. “Obviously, didn’t play my best today and just proud that we went out there and fought, and it’s early in the year and everyone’s dealing with stuff. So feel good. Just want to get out there and get back at practice so I can work on some things.”
The 49ers lost four-time All-Pro linebacker Free Warner to an injury with 7:33 left in the first quarter. Shanahan said Warner “dislocated” an ankle and “I think it broke, too.”
“I was disappointed that I didn’t play better for him today,” Jones said. “You know, sometimes that can create good play, and it didn’t today. So really just praying for him, and I know he’s going to do a great job getting back.”
The 49ers play the Atlanta Falcons at 7:20 p.m. CDT Sunday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. NBC will televise the game.
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