49ers overreactions: Has Mac Jones put Brock Purdy's QB1 job in jeopardy?

The 49ers became the first NFL team since their 1988 squad to open the season with back-to-back road victories with two different starting quarterbacks.Back then, it was Joe and Steve (no last names needed).This time, it was Brock and Mac (no last names needed, either).Is this the making of an epic quarterback controversy the likes of which the NFL has not seen since Joe and Steve?That is exactly why we call this weekly feature “49ers Overreactions.”Thanks to our followers on Twitter/X for supplying the creativity for our latest installment, which lands on your doorstep in the aftermath of the 49ers’ 26-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 2:If Mac Jones keeps playing like this, Purdy’s job may be in jeopardy. (&commat;Bloxtrades)Overreaction? YesThank you&excl; This is what 49ers Overreactions is all about — though, perhaps, a bit too predictable.Just a refresher: The 49ers signed Brock Purdy in the offseason to a five-year, &dollar;265 million extension that includes &dollar;100 million of fully guaranteed money. Mac Jones is on a two-year, &dollar;7.3 million contract.The only way Jones will get on the field during his time with the 49ers is if Purdy has an issue that renders him unavailable. Jones might not be the best backup quarterback in the NFL, but he is the best fit for the 49ers in that role.San Francisco did not have to alter its game plan one bit going from Purdy to Jones. And Jones’ experience showed with the way he managed the game, demonstrated patience and took his shots when the situation called for it.Purdy’s numbers — in 43 starts, including six in the postseason — rank among the best in NFL history. The 49ers are not experiencing any buyer’s remorse. They made the right moves in the offseason with Purdy and Jones, because their backup showed he can keep the team on track when he is called upon.A young and healthy Dee Winters will make the 49ers’ defense much better in 2025 than they would have been with an often injured Dre Greenlaw. (&commat;DonAtkinsonNFL)Overreaction? No.This is difficult to write about, but Dre Greenlaw currently is not healthy enough to play football for the Denver Broncos.He sustained a severe quadriceps injury in the weight room shortly after signing with Broncos this offseason. NBC Sports Bay Area’s Jennifer Lee Chan reported in April that Greenlaw could miss a portion of the season due to the injury.Greenlaw participated briefly in training camp but has not been back on the field since late-July.Meanwhile, Dee Winters looks like a completely different player as he begins his third season in the NFL. He is flying around and making plays.And, like Greenlaw, he took it to the edge — and beyond — with an unnecessary roughness penalty against Saints quarterback Spencer Rattler on Sunday.Winters clearly is the better option now because he is on the field. Greenlaw has been unable to get on the field and stay on the field. He played just one half of one game during the 2024 season for the 49ers before signing his three-year, &dollar;31.5 million contract with the Broncos.Our line and pass protection got better when Colby came in to replace Bartch (&commat;CrazyDuck49)Overreaction? No.It seemed that way, for sure. It looked as if Jones was under considerable pressure early in the game.As the game went on, the 49ers’ pass protection did a good job of allowing Jones plenty of time to go through his reads. In fact, Jones seemed to get a little too comfortable as he held the ball too long on occasion.Rookie Connor Colby, a seventh-round draft pick, had a really good game with no pressures allowed. But Ben Bartch, in his limited snaps before sustaining an ankle injury, also had a perfect pass-block sheet, according to PFF.In any case, it sure looks as if the 49ers found a future starter (sooner than later?) when they selected Colby with the 249th overall pick.Trent Williams is in his final season. (&commat;LovesHamachi)Overreaction? No.If you’re saying Trent Williams will be forced into retirement due to declining play, I’m not so sure about that.But if you’re thinking he will not want to continue playing at the age of 38 in 2026, well, that would be understandable.In any case, the 49ers must have their plan in place for life after Trent Williams. Will they re-sign Spencer Burford for that role? Or do they envision moving Colton McKivitz to left tackle? Or, maybe, will they target somebody in a trade, free agency or in the 2026 NFL Draft?Williams did not play well in Week 1 at Seattle. But despite being listed as questionable with a knee injury, he was back to his All-Pro form against New Orleans. He did not surrender any pressures in 45 snaps of pass protection. That’s as good as it gets.Mykel Williams will be DROY when it’s all said and done. (&commat;t&lowbar;veerina28)Overreaction? Yes.The 49ers’ top pick, Mykel Williams, is giving defensive coordinator Robert Saleh what he needs as the second-most-used player in the team’s rotation of defensive linemen.Your statement being tagged as an overreaction should not be seen as skepticism of Williams, but rather as doubt surrounding the voters. Those kinds of honors are based on stats. Therefore, the dirty work of setting the edge and pushing the pocket often gets ignored in favor of sacks, tackles and interceptions.Perhaps, those numbers will come for Williams. But the true value he provides for the 49ers can be identified this way: He played 87 snaps in the first two games. That’s second among the team’s defensive linemen, behind only Nick Bosa’s 105 plays.I declare next week’s game to be a Matt Maiocco Special: a 49ers GPS Game. Ha&excl; (&commat;DAdeshiyan)Overreaction? No.Ah, thank you. I was afraid you forgot. That term dates back to September 2009 — the first documented mention of GPS Game. It’s defined as a pivotal game that provides an “exact location of where team(s) rank(s).”The 49ers are 2-0 after two road victories. The Arizona Cardinals are 2-0. They beat the 49ers twice last season. There is a good chance the winner of this game will take sole possession of first place in the NFC West with the Los Angeles Rams kicking off earlier in the day at the Philadelphia Eagles.So, yes, let’s break out the #GPSGame designation for this one.Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast

49ers overreactions: Has Mac Jones put Brock Purdy’s QB1 job in jeopardy?

Similar Article Found

49ers insider shuts down overreaction regarding Brock Purdy's job security

Read Next

Latest

Trending News