The San Francisco 49ers turned to Mac Jones on Sunday after Brock Purdy was sidelined with turf toe, and the backup quarterback delivered a solid performance in the victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Jones’ strong showing has sparked fresh debate about Purdy’s recent contract extension and whether the timing was premature given the team’s quarterback depth.
Analyst Colin Cowherd weighed in on Jones’ Week 2 performance during his recent show, highlighting the implications for San Francisco’s quarterback situation moving forward.
“Mac Jones was great,” Cowherd said. “The good news for San Francisco? They now have two quarterbacks that work. One’s probably overpaid, and one’s absolutely underpaid, but this is what Kyle Shanahan does. That’s why I always said with Brock Purdy, Brock’s better than Mac Jones. I’m not denying that. Is he 265 million better? Because you go on the road with no Kittle, no Brandon Ayuk. I know it’s the Saints, but it’s an NFL team.”
Colin Cowherd on Mac Jones’ performance yesterday:
“Mac Jones threw the ball 39 times on the road. Christian McCaffrey only had 13 carries. That was a big ask and Mac Jones was great… Kyle asked him to throw almost 40 times on the road and there’s no George Kittle. No Brandon… pic.twitter.com/qC2YZmVMv7
— Coach Yac ? (@Coach_Yac) September 15, 2025
Head coach Kyle Shanahan has built a reputation for maximizing quarterback production throughout his coaching career, from his coordinator days to his current role leading the 49ers.
The system’s effectiveness became evident again as Jones seamlessly stepped into the starting role and helped secure the road victory.
Jones shouldered significant responsibility against New Orleans, attempting 39 passes while Christian McCaffrey managed just 13 carries.
The quarterback posted impressive numbers despite missing key weapons George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk, finishing with three touchdowns, zero interceptions, 279 yards, and a 113.1 passer rating.
Cowherd noted the demanding workload placed on a quarterback with physical limitations, yet Jones rose to the challenge effectively.
The performance reinforces questions about roster construction and contract allocation as Purdy continues dealing with injury concerns while Shanahan’s system continues producing results regardless of the quarterback under center.
NEXT: Adam Schefter Reveals What He's Hearing About Brock Purdy
