Mac Jones will get another chance to start after all.
The former Patriots and Jaguars quarterback will be QB1 in place of the injured Brock Purdy on Sunday for the 49ers against the Saints, according to multiple reports.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Purdy is dealing with a form of turf toe that is likely to sideline him for two to five weeks. That’s on top of an issue with his non-throwing shoulder.
This gives Jones, who signed as Purdy’s understudy on a two-year deal worth $8.41 million this offseason, a chance to start for his third NFL team.
“Mac’s been awesome,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters this week. “Our team really believes in him.”
A first-round pick by the Patriots in 2021, Jones blossomed that year, throwing for a career-high 3,801 yards en route to a Pro Bowl selection and an appearance in the postseason.
But the Alabama product has failed to reach that plateau again, as he battled inconsistencies and was benched multiple times during the 2023 season, which would serve as his last in New England.
He was eventually traded to the Jaguars before the 2024 campaign, and he was expected to be Trevor Lawrence’s backup when he got the chance to start in seven games as Lawrence suffered an AC joint injury and a concussion.
In the end, Jones threw for 1,672 with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions — good for an 80.5 quarterback rating — in 10 total games.
Now, Jones will get another chance to resurrect his career, first with a road game in New Orleans on Sunday.