Mac Jones was back as the San Francisco 49ers starter on Thursday night in the 26-20 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams. Brock Purdy was sidelined again with a turf toe injury, which allowed Jones to make his third start of the season.
Jones finished the night completing 33 of 49 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns, which included a late 12-play, fourth-quarter drive that took over five minutes off the clock to give the 49ers the lead. However, the Rams were able to score a game-tying field goal to end regulation.
The 49ers are now 4-1, with three of their wins coming from Jones under center this season, keeping San Francisco alive in the NFC West. The former first-round quarterback has been a huge surprise this year after spending most of the last two seasons as a backup option.
ESPN’s Ryan Clark was so impressed by Jones’ performance against the Rams that he now believes San Francisco made a huge mistake back in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“If the 49ers draft Mac Jones like was rumored instead of Trey Lance so many things are different,” Clark posted. “The 49ers probably win a Super Bowl, Mac Jones is one of the highest paid QBs in football, & we never find out just how good Brock Purdy is.”
Jones was the last quarterback taken in the 2021 draft by the New England Patriots at No. 15 overall. Four quarterbacks were selected ahead of him, with Trey Lance being taken third overall by the 49ers.
Lance has since been a backup on two more teams. He was traded from the 49ers to the Dallas Cowboys just before the 2023 season. He then signed with the Los Angeles Chargers this season after his fifth-year option was declined.
Neither the 49ers or Jones can go back in time and change things. But if Jones keeps playing like he did against the Rams, he could be in line to revive his career as a starter on another team next season.