Why You Shouldn’t Be Surprised That Mac Jones Is Playing Well for San Francisco 49ers

Mac Jones playing this well is hard to fathom.

This can’t be the same guy that went 4-14 as a starter over the past two seasons.

Jones was forced into action as the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback on Thursday night for the third time this season.

And for the third time, the 49ers won.

Jones also stood out for the third straight time. He's not just steering the ship. He's effectively giving an injury-ravaged offense an engine as Brocky Purdy limps through a turf toe issue.

Jones had 342 yards and two touchdowns as the 49ers produced a 26-23 overtime victory over the host Los Angeles Rams.

The yardage was the second highest of Jones’ career. He threw for 382 for the New England Patriots against the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.

Jones has received the three starts this season with Purdy out. And somehow, San Francisco isn’t the least bit affected by Purdy’s absence. And no, there won’t be a quarterback controversy.

“They brought me here to play as a backup and that’s my job,” Jones said. “Brock’s the starter of this team.”

Jones has completed 66.7 percent of his passes and is running the offense at an expert level. Jones took a lot of hits and the knee he hurt last month was acting up but he kept competing.

“I don't have enough good things to say about Mac,” 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey said. “He's an absolute warrior. He's a leader. He's somebody that we all get behind, for sure. I think it's a testament to him and his attitude and the way he plays football.”

Maybe it’s as simple as this: Jones just fits into the San Francisco system.

It wouldn’t be the first time that happened.

Purdy was the last player picked in the entire 2022 draft and he turned out to be a splendid fit. So much that he now has a contract that averages $53 million dollars per season.

Jones was the 15th overall pick by the Patriots in the 2021 draft and he immediately became the starter. He passed for 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns and earned a Pro Bowl spot while guiding New England to a 10-7 record and an AFC playoff berth.

But he regressed the following season and that trend continued in 2023. He threw more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (10) and didn’t look like a bona fide starting quarterback.

Last season, he was with the Jacksonville Jaguars and started seven games due to Trevor Lawrence’s injury. He did not stand out but the 49ers added him in the offseason.

There are recent examples of high draft picks who struggled – Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith and Sam Darnold to name three – that later blossomed after getting second or third chances.

Darnold credits his time with coach Kyle Shanahan and more specifically Purdy for teaching him the finer points of detail-driven quarterback play.

Perhaps Jones, 27, is that next guy.

San Francisco (4-1) got some help from the Rams (3-2) in squeezing out the victory and Los Angeles coach Sean McVay would like you to know he was the biggest culprit in the setback.

McVay cited himself for the game-ending, fourth-down play in which Kyren Williams was stuffed for no gain at the San Francisco 11-yard line. McVay first had the offense try to induce an offside before going with an off-tackle running play that fooled nobody.

“I’m pretty sick right now,” McVay said. “I’m sick of the spot I put our team in.”

Williams also had a rough time. He appeared to be heading into the end zone for a go-ahead score with 1:05 left in regulation but San Francisco’s Alfred Collins forced and recovered a fumble at the 49ers’ 1-yard line.

Instead of a four-point lead, the Rams remained down three. They did get the ball back and boot a tying field goal with two seconds left to force OT.

Another problem for the Rams was their very slow start. San Francisco dominated the first 16-plus minutes and led 14-0 before Los Angeles even realized it was Game Night. The Rams later tied the game but never once led.

Matthew Stafford passed for a season-high 389 yards and three touchdowns but the longest of Puka Nacua’s 10 receptions was a 16-yarder.

This is a night in which Los Angeles didn’t take care of business at home against a division opponent playing a backup quarterback.