Kyle Shanahan is staring down a tough reality. His star QB, Brock Purdy, is a “long shot” to play against the New Orleans Saints this Sunday. Purdy’s toe injury, combined with a sore left shoulder, has forced the team to prepare for life without its offensive leader. It’s a blow that hits hard right after an electrifying Week 1 win over Seattle. With 17 players already sidelined by injuries, the 49ers face a daunting task just a week into the season.

But they have Mac Jones to fill Purdy’s shoes. The former Patriots and Jaguars starter, now the 49ers’ backup, is the next man up. While Shanahan and the team have plenty of confidence in Jones, the HC didn’t sugarcoat the biggest concern: the guy isn’t Brock Purdy, especially when it comes to mobility.

“Obviously, Brock’s been a hell of a player and had a hell of a game last week against Seattle,” Kyle Shanahan told 49ers insider Matt Maiocco. “But we do have a lot of confidence in Mac. He’s had a great training camp [and] he’s had a great week of practice. He might not have the same mobility as Brock; Brock makes a number of plays with his legs, which Mac is capable of, but he’s not going to do that quite as much.” Jones is your classic pocket passer. A traditional QB who doesn’t scramble out of the pocket and relies firmly on his arm and timing. From the 2021 NFL Draft through today, Jones’ mobility has been questioned.

The NFL is trending toward quarterbacks who can move, extend plays, and even run when needed. Jones just isn’t that guy. Meanwhile, Purdy has been open about his limitations. He called himself a “stiff quarterback,” yet he’s still shown a knack for scrambling and making plays with his legs. After all, the 49ers’ offense is more pass-heavy now. It relies less on the running game and more on the quarterback executing through the air.

This contrast creates an undercurrent of concern for the Niners as they prepare for the Saints. Jones’s lack of elite mobility could expose him to more sacks and slow down an offense. With Purdy, the offense had confidence in the quarterback’s ability to escape pressure and keep drives alive with his legs. The running game dynamic changes when the QB can’t roll out or scramble easily. But the Niners’ problems don’t just stop at quarterback. Losing George Kittle to injury adds another huge hurdle for Kyle Shanahan to overcome.

Kyle Shanahan’s headache grows with George Kittle out

The tight end spot just got hit hard with Kittle landing on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, sidelining him for at least four weeks. Kittle has been Brock Purdy’s go-to target, a safety valve in tight windows and crucial third-down conversions. Losing Kittle is a double whammy when you lose your starting QB. His presence helped take some pressure off Purdy and balanced the offense.

Now, with Mac Jones under center and Kittle out, the 49ers must rely on backups like Luke Farrell, Jake Tonges, and veteran Kyle Juszczyk to fill the void. Shanahan acknowledged they’re actively looking to add reinforcements at tight end to patch the depth chart hole. Without Kittle, Jones won’t have that trusted security blanket; it puts even more emphasis on clean pockets and quick decision-making.

Kyle Shanahan remains confident that, despite these setbacks, Mac Jones has the tools to execute San Francisco’s offensive scheme well. “[I’m] not too concerned with Mac; as long as we play good around him, Mac will have a hell of a game,” Shanahan said. But that confidence isn’t exactly shared by the fans, who are skeptical about Jones’ ability to fill Purdy’s cleats in this high-pressure moment.