Mac Jones filled in for injured quarterback Brock Purdy during the San Francisco 49ers' Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints, throwing for 279 yards and three touchdowns in a hard-fought 26-21 victory. Jones, the 15th overall pick by the New England Patriots in the 2021 NFL Draft, once believed there was a real chance he might begin his career in the Bay Area under head coach Kyle Shanahan.

Four years later, after stints with the Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars, Jones signed with the 49ers to serve as Purdy's backup. On Sunday, he made his first start in red and gold, helping San Francisco improve to 2-0.


Following the win, one fan asked NBC Sports Bay Area's Matt Maiocco whether Jones' performance could eventually put Purdy's starting job in jeopardy. To the fan's credit, the question came in response to Maiocco fishing for social media overreactions—and this one certainly qualified.

Maiocco quickly shut down the notion. He reminded fans that the 49ers committed to Purdy this offseason by signing him to a five-year, $265 million contract extension, while Jones joined on a two-year, $7.3 million deal to do exactly what he did on Sunday—keep the offense moving if Purdy is unavailable.

While Jones may not be the NFL's top backup quarterback, Maiocco believes he's an ideal fit for San Francisco.

"San Francisco did not have to alter its game plan one bit going from Purdy to Jones," Maiocco wrote. "And Jones' experience showed with the way he managed the game, demonstrated patience, and took his shots when the situation called for it."

Ultimately, Purdy's résumé far outweighs any short-term buzz from Jones' debut.


"Purdy's numbers — in 43 starts, including six in the postseason — rank among the best in NFL history," Maiocco noted. "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."

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