The San Francisco 49ers’ season just took a major hit with QB Brock Purdy’s toe injury proving more serious than expected. Head Coach Kyle Shanahan called his starting quarterback a “long shot” for Week 2 against New Orleans during Wednesday’s press conference. Mac Jones now faces the possibility of multiple starts as San Francisco’s offense adjusts to life without its franchise signal-caller. The timeline keeps getting worse, and now Ian Rapoport confirms it.

Ian Rapoport’s Wednesday morning bombshell created mixed feelings throughout the 49ers organization and fanbase. His NFL Network appearance confirmed what Kyle Shanahan feared most—Brock Purdy faces an extended absence that could derail San Francisco’s championship aspirations. The injury timeline creates uncertainty because turf toe injuries notoriously linger, especially for quarterbacks who rely on precise footwork. “My understanding is that Brock Purdy is out two to five weeks—two to five weeks for Brock Purdy with what is essentially a variant of turf toe,” Rapoport explained on Good Morning Football. His assessment paints a grim picture for an offense built around Purdy’s accuracy and mobility. The wide range suggests medical uncertainty about the healing process, leaving coaches unable to plan effectively for upcoming games.

Rapoport’s detailed explanation revealed the injury’s severity beyond initial reports. “It is a ligament injury that affects the bottom of his foot. Call it turf toe if you want—that’s basically what Kyle Shanahan has said—but two to five weeks for Brock Purdy, which would put him out at least the Saints game this week, the Cardinals game next week, and then we’ll see.” The ligament damage explains why simple rest won’t solve the problem quickly. Purdy’s swollen and irritated toe creates additional complications for his return timeline. “It is swollen. It is irritated,” Rapoport noted. “No one knows how it’s going to react, but certainly it seems like the 49ers are looking at probably two starts for Mac Jones, their backup quarterback, and maybe more.” This uncertainty forces San Francisco to prepare Mac Jones for extended duty rather than emergency relief appearances.

The injury epidemic continues to plague the San Francisco roster heading into the 2025 season. Tight End George Kittle remains on injured reserve with his hamstring problem, while wide receiver Jauan Jennings battles shoulder issues, and Ben Bartch deals with knee concerns. “And it’s been tough early on for the 49ers, guys. Obviously, you had the Christian McCaffrey minor injury to start out Week 1. He ended up playing. You have George Kittle on IR with a hamstring injury. Another battery of injuries for the 49ers. A lot of challenges early on,” Rapoport summarized. These mounting health problems test San Francisco’s depth across multiple positions. If Purdy’s absence extends to five weeks, he wouldn’t return until Week 7 against Atlanta, creating massive pressure on Jones to maintain playoff positioning. The harsh reality remains clear—49ers fans really don’t want Mac Jones instead of Brock Purdy.

49ers fans worry as Mac Jones steps in for injured Purdy

San Francisco fans are expressing serious doubts about Mac Jones taking over for the injured Brock Purdy. These concerns are backed by clear evidence from Jones’ career performance. One fan stated, “It’s concerning that Mac Jones is on this team.” This worry is substantiated by his Jacksonville performance, where he threw 8 touchdowns and 8 interceptions in 10 games. His tendency for turnovers has been consistent throughout his career.

Another fan commented, “Just when I thought the 49ers could challenge for the Super Bowl this year…they aren’t doing that with Mac Jones.” This perspective is supported by his career: 44 interceptions against 54 touchdowns. His quarterback rating was 80.5 last season.

A fan simply wrote, “bad,” which aligns with his statistical decline. After a promising rookie season (3,801 yards, 22 TDs), his production fell sharply. He managed only 24 touchdowns against 23 interceptions in his next 24 games with New England.

Another worried supporter added, “If he starts more than 3 games szn is over.” This concern is validated by his career 2.9 yards per carry average and limited mobility. Jones initially showed promise as Tom Brady’s successor in New England. However, his performance declined sharply over the next two seasons. Former coach Bill Belichick eventually benched him for Bailey Zappe. Jones’ tenure in Jacksonville proved equally inconsistent when filling in for Trevor Lawrence. His inability to extend plays could strain San Francisco’s offensive system.

These fan reactions reflect legitimate concerns based on statistical reality. Jones’ declining performance, turnover tendencies, and lack of mobility present genuine challenges for a Super Bowl-contending team. While the 49ers’ strong roster might help compensate, the historical data suggests fans have valid reasons for their apprehension about this quarterback transition.