San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and quarterback Mac Jones spoke to reporters following Friday's practice, providing final updates ahead of the team's Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Here's everything they said.
Transcript provided by the San Francisco 49ers Communications staff.
Head Coach Kyle Shanahan
Opening comments:
"Injuries for the game: [QB] Brock Purdy will be out, [T] Trent Williams, questionable, [WR] Jauan Jennings, questionable. Go ahead."
Where's Trent at right now? I saw him running on the side. Did he progress throughout the course of the week?
"Yeah, he was out there today. Got a practice with us. That was good. Yeah."
Trent, he got limited practice time?
"No, he was out there for everything. That says limited, but we went half speed, so he was able to get through it."
So, are you confident that both the questionable guys will be available?
"Questionable."
Does playing surface factor into Trent at all?
"No."
Is the plan at quarterback to bring QB Adrian Martinez up on Saturday?
"Yes."
How much can he do? How comfortable are you with him if he had to come into the game?
"I mean, he has been good these two weeks learning both these game plans. Today, I mean this week, he got the most reps that he has got, at least with the scout team. We're working on everything with him after practice, but we'd have to see him in the game. I'm comfortable with him going in and executing. I've really liked him here these first two weeks. If it comes to that, we'll be ready to go though."
Do you feel like you have to modify the game plan at all?
"Yeah, you've got to change a little bit if he'd have to go in. I mean, he's prepared for it all, but I'll have an idea of the stuff he likes more than others. We don't tell him. I mean, he's been here two weeks, so he learns the game plan for the week like everyone else. But you don't tell a guy, 'hey, just take these 10 plays.' You try to tell him to learn the whole game plan. But, I always want to know what he is most comfortable with and hopefully we can stick with that if the game allows us to."
In your mind, is WR Ricky Pearsall at a point where he can have the same kind of impact no matter who's at quarterback, whether it's Brock or QB Mac Jones?
"I mean, Ricky's our starting receiver. Ricky's going to win his routes and do his thing and hopefully the plays and the protection and the coverages take him there. But you know, how a receiver plays and stuff I don't think really depends on the quarterback. Some quarterbacks have an easier time getting the plays to the right spots and things like that, but Ricky's in a good spot with whoever's playing."
You've had a lot of injuries the past few seasons. Do you start to feel like sometimes maybe you're snake bit?
"I don't know. I think in '23 we were the healthiest team in football from what stats and people have told me. Last year we weren't. This year it hasn't been good so far, but we'll see how it ends up."
K Eddy Piñeiro was taking punt snaps. Was that just an emergency thing or is there something wrong with P Thomas Morstead?
"I didn't notice. You've got a good eye, so I'll have to ask when I go in."
It seemed like a blocking drill for the snapper.
"I'm sure they had something to work on."
How would you assess Mac's week of practice and his preparation for this week heading into the game?
"It's been awesome. The same this week as he has been all camp. Our team really believes in him, our team really enjoys him and he did a hell of a job this week in practice."
His teammates have spoken to Mac's humor, that part of his personality. How would you describe him and his personality?
"I think Mac's really cool. I think he is funny. I think he's himself. My wife said, 'he must be really funny and have a sense of humor' because she saw his suit that he wore last week to the game. I said, 'I don't think he is trying to be funny. He's just got swag.' So that's just him. But no, Mac's himself, makes guys laugh. He's got a lot of energy and I think our guys have really enjoyed him so far."
Do you think that helps with team cohesion?
"Guys play hard for guys that they like, that's for sure. Cohesion is great, but it all comes down with guys in the long run just to how you play too. But, guys definitely enjoy playing for a guy that they like more."
How well has WR Kendrick Bourne picked up the playbook in his second go around this week?
"I mean, it's been a challenge with him just getting here, like it would be for anybody who's new. Him Monday compared to today, he's getting there and he's got another day and a half to get there and I think it'll be good on Sunday."
It's an interesting case study his last year in 2020. How much have things changed since then for him?
"I think a good amount. I mean, the basis of our style of how our verbiage works and stuff is the same. But just words and everything that we've added, different types of motions, everything. I mean, it's expanded a lot in the last five years, like everyone does. And regardless, when you go into another offense for that long, it still takes a lot of time for it to come back."
How good do you feel about OL Spencer Burford's progress as a left tackle if he would be needed in this game?
"I feel good. I think Spence has done a hell of a job for us, whether it's at guard or tackle. Making that change fully, he has always been an emergency tackle since he's been here. But, getting all the reps there throughout OTAs and training camp, I think he's gotten better at it each day and I think he's made to play that position. He can really play all of them. If he's got to go, he will be ready."
Did you guys want to sign free agent QB Mike White this week but just couldn't because of numbers?
"Yeah, we definitely had to be prepared for it. You'd love to have some more guys up. You'd love to have three guys on the roster so you could have an emergency guy like that. But, we couldn't do that just with our 53 and stuff, so we're just doing our due diligence and making sure people are ready. He's got some history with people in our building and some similar offenses and he was out there and available."
I have a what if question for you. Before the Draft, was there a scenario in your mind where the Saints take DL Mykel Williams and you guys end up with New Orleans Saints OL Kelvin Banks Jr.?
"I don't like to get into who we would've taken, but we definitely liked him a lot. He was an awesome Longhorn so got a soft spot for that. It could've gone any way, but he was definitely a guy that we liked a lot."
QB Mac Jones
How do you feel for this game coming up on Sunday?
"I feel good. Obviously, was fortunate to get a lot of reps in OTAs and training camp, which they do a great job here giving everybody reps. So, it's in the front side of the season here, and I feel prepared. I've been working for this and fortunate to have started, I think this is my 50th game in the NFL, so I have my routine down, and I'm looking forward to the opportunity."
It seems like you got a lot of reps in the summer with guys that might be on the field on Sunday too. Like TE Jake Tonges and TE Brayden Willis. How do you feel about your rapport with that group of guys who could be playing a lot on Sunday?
"Yeah, that's a great point, and [TE] Luke [Farrell] in that tight end room too I played with last year. So, definitely have a lot of experience throwing to a lot of different guys throughout the season and OTAs, like you said, with injuries, so it's been good. With this offense, you obviously want to find your rhythm, stick with your footwork and your timing, the guys rotate in and out, but you're getting good work. Whether that's OTAs or training camp. So definitely feel confident with the guys we have, the line, the backs and everybody. Obviously a great defense, so looking forward to the challenge."
You played with WR Kendrick Bourne too, right?
"I mean yeah, good point."
After the three years you had with him, how excited were you to see him come in?
"Yeah, it was great. I mean we were talking about it a little bit here and there. Just texting back and forth, FaceTime and stuff, and once he came and worked out, we did our little handshake and I was like, 'you've got to sign here.' [Quarterbacks coach Mick] Lombardi, obviously our quarterback coach, was with us in New England. He's like, 'who would've thought we would all be standing here on a Thursday afternoon?' You know, me, Kendrick and Mick, so kind of crazy. But we definitely have good rapport and really just trying to challenge him to learn the plays. He just got here, and I think he'll be ready to do what he has to do."
How much were you able to help him pick up some of the playbook this week?
"A lot. We definitely spent a lot of time together. Had a couple extra meetings with him and just continued our friendship that we have. He knows how I see the game and he does a great job coming back to the ball, playing hard and playing for 60 minutes. One thing about K.B., he's going to give everything he's got like a lot of receivers in that room, you know, [WR] Ricky [Pearsall], [WR Jauan Jennings] J.J., so they're all built from the same stuff. I'm looking forward to just competing for 60 Minutes."
Your teammates have really spoken about your sense of humor. Obviously, you've been in a lot of great situations to play at quarterback. I'm curious, does that personality ever come off as a lack of focus, or has it always been up to your ability to channel that in some way?
"Yeah, I definitely think that's part of my personality, and I play to have fun and try and win. I think a lot of guys play football, it's hard when you're in the NFL and it's your job, but at the end of the day winning is fun, and I understand that. I want to go out there and be loose. You talked about focus, and my goal is to have intentional focus on each play, one play at a time and slot each play. So, they're one play, even if there's 70 of them, you just take it one play at a time and do your job on each play. Then at the end, you can look back and grade it. But try and get into that game mindset where you're not in a practice mindset, and you're out there just playing football, having fun, going through your reads, your plays and moving the tempo of the huddle. So that's what I'm going to focus on, and I'll let the results take care of themselves."
How would you describe the sense of humors of former Alabama head coach Nick Saban and University of North Carolina head coach Bill Belichick?
"(Laugh). Yeah. I've definitely had a very interesting, great line of coaches that have helped me. Obviously, [head coach] Kyle [Shanahan] too. Kyle's really funny, and I feel like we're the most similar (laugh) in terms of just our humor. But it's been good to learn from some great people, and I've just really been grateful to be here and learn from Kyle and the great coaches that we have here too."
DL Nick Bosa was saying the other day that that, if we were going to go to a backup, maybe the bright side is it's good to happen at the beginning of the year when the reps and stuff are still fresh as opposed to maybe 10 games into the season where you haven't taken a snap in a while?
"Yeah, a little bit. I think as a backup, all you know is you're not taking the first snap and everything after that's fair game. So that's how I prepare. And like I said, I've done this a lot of times that doesn't mean I'll be great at it one way or the other. It just means that I have a schedule and a system that I know that works for me as a starter and got to do that this week. And yeah, that's a great point by him, obviously it's fresh and like last year I didn't play until, the 10th or eighth game of the year or whatever. Not that you're rusty, but it's just a little different. You just have to continue to work throughout the whole season and obviously this opportunity is what I'm focused on and like I said, take it one play at a time and that's what will happen."
Are there things you could draw from last year? When you were a rookie, you were a starter from day one, but last year, you began the season in this role as the backup. Is there stuff that you can draw from the experience last year of being called upon and now?
"Yeah, for sure. That's a great question and been fortunate to kind of play a lot of different roles and at the end of the day, your job as a quarterback is to either hand it off or throw it. That's how simple I'm going to keep it and that's when I play my best and when I have a low pulse and kind of just go out there and go through my reads. Obviously have that intensity and focus but really go out there whether you're back up or starter and whether you play the first play or not, you got to be ready to play and have your system that works for you. I'm very confident in that and I put a lot of work into that this offseason."
Now QB Adrian Martinez is going to be the backup, and he's got to approach it like he's one play away. What are your observations of him in the quarterback room? Do you like what you see?
"Oh yeah. I really like Adrian a lot. Obviously, Brock's in there and helping us. Adrian came in and he's just a really laid back, cool guy and easy to work with. So that's kind of what you want. And he's been in some big QB rooms with the Jets and stuff and played a lot of football, so I'm excited to have him in there. And we've had a great week of preparation and right now it's about dialing in the last couple hours here and putting our best foot forward."
What's your background like in noisy stadiums? Does anything in the NFL compare to what you dealt with in college?
"Yeah, every game is different, but I really just understand what that means. Obviously, communication is more difficult, and you have to accept that and it's not going to be perfect, but you just have to play functional meaning like I said, run it, throw it or hand it off and try and just stay on track. And all the other stuff is outside noise that is there but shouldn't really matter and looking forward to the challenge. I know it's a really cool place to play with lots of great history and fans and the indoor stadium. Obviously indoor stadiums are louder, when you have, I think like games in Minnesota or something, the sound is closed. So it's going to be a little bit louder. So looking forward to it and definitely be a big challenge."
Now that you're actually starting, has it finally hit you, did you ever think that you'd actually be starting a game as the San Francisco 49ers quarterback?
"I think it's all part of God's plan and obviously on Draft Day, like I said, you don't have control over where you're going to go, but God put me here for a reason. I'm just blessed to be here and really thankful for the people here who've allowed me to get back on track. Obviously, there's a lot more to do and got to be ready for this Sunday and go out there and have fun and let it fly. I put in the work, so that's all you can ask, at least give yourself a chance."
What would you say was the loudest NFL experience that you dealt with?
"Not to compare to anybody, but obviously I played in Buffalo a few times, pretty loud on those Monday night, Thursday night games and Minnesota was loud, but heard really good things about this place in New Orleans. So, looking forward to seeing how loud it is. I know it'll be really loud, so it'll be fun."