SANTA CLARA, Calif. — While quarterback Brock Purdy slowly works his way back from injury, the San Francisco 49ers will once again turn to Mac Jones as the starter for Sunday's NFC West showdown against the Los Angeles Rams.
For the second consecutive week, Purdy is officially listed as questionable because of the right big toe injury he initially suffered in Week 1 and aggravated in Week 4. Purdy again was a limited participant in all three days of practice this week but couldn't get to a point where the Niners are ready to plug him back into the starting lineup.
«It will be Mac again starting,» coach Kyle Shanahan said Friday. «We haven't decided whether to make (Purdy) active or not, but he's further along this week than last week.»
Before last week's game against the New York Giants, Shanahan said there was a chance Purdy could be Jones' backup or even serve as the emergency third signal-caller behind Jones and Adrian Martinez. That didn't happen, and after the game Shanahan said Purdy wasn't all that close to being ready to go.
This week, Purdy ramped up his practice workload, and though he still wasn't a full participant, he did take more reps with the starting offense. Whether Purdy can serve in any form of backup role Sunday will depend on how he feels as the game gets closer.
If Purdy isn't active against the Rams, it will be the eighth game he has missed this season. Jones has gone 5-2 in his place, averaging 261.7 passing yards per game (fourth in the NFL), while throwing 10 touchdowns and five interceptions for a 61.2 QBR.
Jones has played through multiple injuries of his own, including a pair of knee issues that had him on the injury report until the past couple of weeks. His resilience has helped win over
Read more on espn.com
espn.com