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(Photo by Candice Ward/Getty Images)
Mac Jones delivered his third win this season for the San Francisco 49ers, guiding the team to a 26-23 overtime triumph over the Los Angeles Rams on October 2 at SoFi Stadium.
Jones was sharp throughout the night, completing 33 of 49 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns. With Brock Purdy battling injuries since the Week 1 victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Jones has taken over seamlessly, accounting for three of San Francisco’s four wins this season.
The lone setback came in Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, when Purdy was back in the starting role. Jones’ talent has always been there, considering he was a first-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2021. After an impressive rookie season, it was all downhill, leading to his departure in 2023.
Amid his newfound form with the 49ers, FS1 host Colin Cowherd took a direct shot at the Patriots after Jones’ latest performance.
“Mac Jones this year, and I’m talking dealing with second and third stringers—everybody’s hurt—has better numbers,” Cowherd said on the October 3 edition of “The Herd.” “So maybe I should stop burying guys named Jones, Daniel, and Mac. He clearly wasn’t washed.
“Maybe he just had to wash the Patriot stink off him, because he was great [on October 2]. He did not have much of a run game. The front for the Rams is outstanding. In passing yards per game, San Francisco now, between Purdy and Mac Jones, has two of the top three in the league. And it just shows you the power of these great offensive coaches.”
Kendrick Bourne Talks 49ers QB Mac Jones
Veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne was among those who thrived from Jones’ standout showing in Los Angeles. Speaking with reporters after the game, Bourne praised the way Jones guided the Niners to a statement victory.
“I’ve seen it for a while now, and I’m just proud of him,“ Bourne told reporters (h/t 95.7 The Game). “Even when he’s throwing the ball, [I’ll tell] him at practice, ‘Like, man, you’re zipping the ball,‘ and how he’s throwing it. You can tell he’s confident and things like that.
“It’s just awesome to see him in this space. How [I saw] him in New England was a different world for him, so to see him now with the peace he has, and he’s playing free and having fun, I think it’s a big part of the game for him. So it’s showing.”
The 49ers Have Tapped Into Mac Jones’ Potential
Bourne didn’t stop at praising Jones. He added that the former Patriots quarterback is thriving in the Bay Area because the system plays to his strengths.
“[He’s] a first-round pick,“ Bourne added (h/t KNBR). “Everything falls on him. He’s young. He has to figure it out, and that’s tough for anybody. I don’t know what that feels like, an undrafted guy, but you just see it.
“Being a fan of the game, it’s tough. That stuff is just different. Every situation is different. Coaching is different. I think now, he fits the system. The system is important for a lot of players, and it shows in his game. So shout out to Kyle [Shanahan], man, John [Lynch], and them.
“They’re doing a good job of getting people prepared, even for myself. I had the opportunity because Ricky [Pearsall] is down and Jauan [Jennings] is down, and they got me prepared, and the same thing with.”
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports journalist covering the NFL for Heavy.com. He previously covered the league for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has contributed as a freelance writer for The Sporting News. He also served as an editor for Athlon Sports and Heavy Sports focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
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