The San Francisco 49ers are facing more uncertainty at quarterback. Starter Brock Purdy aggravated his turf toe injury during Sunday's loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars, forcing the team to rule him out for Thursday Night Football against the Los Angeles Rams. As a result, Mac Jones will make his third start of the season.
Thursday marks Purdy's third missed game of the year since initially suffering the injury in Week 1, and his absence could stretch even further. According to NFL insider Ian Rapoport, Purdy may also be sidelined when the 49ers host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 6.
How close was Purdy to playing against the Rams?
"Not close," Rapoport said on NFL Network before kickoff. "My understanding is that Brock Purdy suffered a setback in the loss against the Jaguars—basically, got hit the same way. Remember, he was dealing with that turf toe injury, came in, reported soreness, had an MRI.
"The MRI revealed an aggravation of that turf toe. Not major, major, but out tonight. I'm told he's considered week-to-week. After this, they play the Bucs next week. He could miss that game as well."
From The @NFLonPrime TNF pregame show: #49ers QB Brock Purdy suffered a setback of his turf toe injury against the #Jaguars and is now considered week-to-week. He could miss additional games after tonight. pic.twitter.com/dRYqj0nK5S
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 2, 2025
Just hours before kickoff, the 49ers signed quarterback Adrian Martinez to the active roster from the practice squad, instead of using a standard elevation. That move could signal the team's concern that Purdy may miss more than just one game, as Martinez was eligible for one more activation before a signing was required.
This week, Purdy was asked if he believed he returned too early from the initial toe injury.
"I was ready to go," Purdy responded. "I felt pretty good, and for me to go out and execute on offense and go through reads and throw the ball throughout the week at practice, I felt great. And so, I had a lot of confidence going into the game, thinking that it was going to be good."
Looking ahead, the 49ers face a critical stretch of games. After the Rams game, they will travel to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers before hosting the Atlanta Falcons. Then, they'll hit the road to play the Houston Texans and the New York Giants.
A loss to the Rams would drop San Francisco to 3-2, adding even more urgency to their upcoming schedule.
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