“He played his a** off, man,” head coach Kyle Shanahan had nothing else to say for Mac Jones, who started for an injured quarterback for the third time this season.

Jones’ performance carried the San Francisco 49ers to a nail-biting 26-23 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday Night Football. He was a one-legged man peeling the gridiron, hopping on the sidelines, and then returning right back into the action, limping. But beating his body to this extent can come at a very high cost.

With the 49ers up 17-7 in the third quarter, Jared Verse came crashing in on Jones. This left Jones rolling over immediately, clutching his left leg, grimacing in pain. Yet somehow, he manages to get to the sideline. With such a banged-up condition for Jones, fans are a little concerned if he can bounce back in week 6. But the doctors have some good news. According to Deepak Chona, NFL injury analyst, Jones is “heavily limping but lean toward playing Wk 6.”

This might have filled the 49ers fans with hope for the coming week. But concerns still cloud over the Jones, as this wasn’t his only injury from the game. His forearm flared up later in the game. He was hit hard and was peeled off the grass, needing help to even make it to the sidelines.

“He hurt his knee for a little bit there. But he ended up bouncing back from that,” Shanahan said. “His forearm was cramping there in the second half and in the fourth quarter. It was bothering him, but he worked through it.” Though his appearance seems like a blessing, having an injured and burnt-out QB can be a liability as well.

Jones’ 342 yards marked the second-highest total of his career, ending all the brewing quarterback controversies. “I think, you know, they brought me here to play as a backup and that’s my job,” the “sleeper QB said after the win. He is now 3-0, filling in for Purdy, throwing 905 yards and six touchdowns, getting at par with Jim Plunkett for the most by any 49er QB in his first three games for them.

The 49ers are still short on Purdy

The 49ers once again did it without their QB1, Brock Purdy, in a gritty week 5 kickoff against the Rams. Purdy remained on the sidelines with a nagging toe injury that just won’t go. This led to another start for Mac Jones. The former Patriots‘ first round kept the San Francisco offense humming and pushing to its fourth win of the season. But all eyes remain on Purdy’s recovery as the 49ers stay conscious with their starter.

Deepak Chona weighed in again and posted an injury update for Purdy. “Brock Purdy – Re-aggravated turf toe. Comments suggested optimism. But data strongly favors sitting Wk 6. Avg = 3 wks,” he wrote on X. Shanahan also did not sugarcoat anything after the situation. “He reaggravated it,” he said of Purdy’s injury, via NFL.com. “He’s week to week. Don’t know how it will heal.”  

Purdy’s injury has lingered since week 1 of the season, when he sustained a toe and shoulder injury against the Seattle Seahawks. His injury has contributed to a stretch of uncertain plays despite his massive $265 million contract extension with the 49ers. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also reported that his status is “week to week” with no firm timetable for his return. The road for now will be without QB1 for a while.

With Purdy’s absence still a looming fairytale, Jones has stepped in and delivered what is needed. He has played efficient football, leaning on running back Christian McCaffrey and the 49ers’ loaded roster and supporting staff. For week 6 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the 49ers front desk hopes the wins to keep coming until its starter is back. The Bucs have a top-tier blitz, and Todd Bowles will be aiming to exploit the 49ers’ offense, especially when they are without their QB1.