49ers get Brock Purdy boost while Mac Jones trade talk quietly builds

Aman Sharma

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49ers get Brock Purdy boost while Mac Jones trade talk quietly builds image

The San Francisco 49ers head into their matchup with the Chicago Bears carrying momentum on two fronts that matter most in January. Their starting quarterback is in peak form, and their backup has quietly become a valuable asset around the league.

Together, those developments place San Francisco in a rare position of strength as the postseason approaches.

Brock Purdy delivered his most authoritative performance of the season in a 48-27 victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Monday Night Football, earning NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors announced Wednesday.

He completed 25 of 34 passes for 295 yards and threw a career-best five touchdown passes, finishing with a 126.8 passer rating. Beyond the numbers, the night carried historical weight.

Purdy became the first 49ers quarterback to record five or more touchdown throws in a single game since Joe Montana accomplished the feat in 1990. The outburst pushed Purdy to 17 touchdown passes this season and 81 for his career.

The timing could not be better. San Francisco and Chicago enter Sunday’s game with identical 11-4 records and playoff berths secured, turning the matchup into a measuring stick rather than a must-win.

Purdy’s recent play has also quieted doubts lingering from earlier in the year, when a toe injury sidelined him and tested the team’s depth at the position. Head coach Kyle Shanahan praised the performance afterward, calling it “pretty close to a perfect game.”

Mac Jones adds leverage to an already strong quarterback picture

While Purdy reasserts himself as the clear leader of the offense, the spotlight has shifted subtly toward the man behind him. Mac Jones started eight games during Purdy’s absence and guided the 49ers to a 5-3 record, stabilizing a season that could have unraveled.

That stretch has reshaped how the league views Jones, particularly given his contract situation. He is signed through 2026 at a cost of $3.25 million, a figure that stands out in a quarterback market defined by escalating salaries.

The internal calculus for San Francisco is complex. Purdy’s injury history across four seasons underscores the value of a proven backup, especially one already fluent in Shanahan’s system.

Offensive lineman Trent Williams described Purdy’s current demeanor by saying,

“He’s resilient, and he carries a certain peace about him right now that keeps him from getting rattled,” a reflection of how stability at quarterback can ripple through the roster.

At the same time, league observers see Jones as a potential trade chip if the 49ers decide to capitalize. Jeff Howe of The Athletic noted that San Francisco could hold Jones as high-end insurance or explore the market if teams come calling.

For now, the 49ers can afford patience. They enter the playoffs with uncommon depth at the game’s most important position, knowing any decision on Jones can wait until the season’s stakes are fully resolved.

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