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The San Francisco 49ers head into Week 11 facing the Arizona Cardinals in a critical divisional matchup while managing uncertainty at quarterback. Brock Purdy continues his recovery from a turf toe injury as Mac Jones maintains his strong play and central role in the offense.
At 6-4, San Francisco remains in the playoff picture heading into the second half of the season. Analyst Colin Cowherd recently shared his perspective on which quarterback should lead the 49ers moving forward during this stretch.
“The hot quarterback is Mac Jones. The healthy quarterback is Mac Jones. I would be in no rush to bring back Brock Purdy,” Cowherd said on The Herd.
"The hot quarterback is Mac Jones. The healthy quarterback is Mac Jones. I would be in no rush to bring back Brock Purdy."@colincowherd does a blind resume comparison between Jones and other top QBs around the league pic.twitter.com/rbSz641o4J
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) November 13, 2025
Cowherd backed his stance by comparing Jones’ statistics with those of other quarterbacks around the league. Jones appeared competitive or superior to several notable names in key categories.
Despite that assessment, expectations within and outside the organization suggest Purdy has a legitimate chance to return Sunday against Arizona. Meanwhile, Jones has compiled a 5-3 record as the starting quarterback this season.
He has completed 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards with 13 touchdowns against six interceptions. His production ranks second in the NFL in average passing yards at nearly 270 per game.
Jones has achieved those results while working primarily with Brandon Aiyuk as the top receiver and Ricky Pearsall as the second option. San Francisco’s postseason hopes depend heavily on the return of multiple injured contributors over the coming weeks.
For Purdy, avoiding re-injury remains a priority after signing a five-year extension worth $265 million earlier this year. That contract established him as the franchise’s long-term answer at quarterback. While Jones has delivered consistent performances during his time as the starter, the organization has maintained that Purdy will reclaim his role once cleared medically.
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