There’s no quarterback controversy brewing in San Francisco - at least not in the locker room. Brock Purdy made that clear this week, giving full credit to Mac Jones for stepping up when the 49ers needed him most. And if there’s any lingering speculation about tension between the two, Purdy shut that down with the kind of poise you’d expect from a leader who’s been through the fire.
“He’s the man,” Purdy said Tuesday, speaking about Jones. “Our relationship has grown a lot this year. We’ve had each other’s backs all the way.”
That mutual respect has been on full display throughout the season. When Purdy went down earlier this year with a shoulder injury, Jones - fresh off a rocky stint in New England - stepped into the starting role and helped keep the 49ers afloat in a tight NFC playoff race.
It wasn’t just a stopgap performance, either. Jones went 5-3 as the starter, completing nearly 70% of his passes and throwing for 13 touchdowns against just six picks.
He didn’t just manage games - he made plays.
And Purdy noticed.
“Him going out there and keeping our team alive, making plays and balling out, it was really cool to see,” Purdy added.
Now that Purdy is back under center, the 49ers are riding a three-game win streak. He’s looked more like himself in stretches, avoiding interceptions in two of those wins.
But even with a 9-4 record, San Francisco is walking a tightrope in the NFC. They’re clinging to the final playoff spot, just two games up on Detroit.
And in the NFC West, it’s a logjam - the Niners are tied for first with Seattle and Los Angeles, but they’ve played one more game than both.
The timing of this week’s bye couldn’t be better. While it’s never easy to hit pause on a winning streak, this break might be exactly what Purdy needs.
He’s still working his way back to full strength, and the numbers reflect that. Over his last three starts, he’s thrown five touchdowns but also three interceptions, averaging just 187 passing yards per game - a far cry from the dynamic production he delivered during his breakout 2023 Pro Bowl campaign.
Still, head coach Kyle Shanahan hasn’t wavered. Even after a shaky win over the Panthers, Shanahan dismissed any talk of turning back to Jones. That kind of vote of confidence matters, especially in a locker room that’s had to weather injuries and shifting expectations all year.
The bye week gives Purdy a chance to rest that shoulder, recharge, and reset for what’s shaping up to be a brutal stretch run. The 49ers return to action on December 14th at Levi’s Stadium against the Tennessee Titans, and from there, it’s a gauntlet.
Three of their final four games are against teams currently holding playoff spots. There’s no margin for error.
But the good news? Purdy’s been getting reps - and wins - even if he’s not yet at 100%. That combination of rest and rhythm could be the perfect mix as the Niners try to punch their ticket back to the postseason.
No drama. No controversy. Just two quarterbacks pulling in the same direction - and a team that’s still very much in the hunt.