🚨 JUST IN: The 49ers’ quarterback battle explodes as Brock Purdy’s grip on the job trembles, leaving fans and insiders scrambling to answer the shocking question of who really leads San Francisco.QQ
Earlier this season when Mac Jones filled in for an injured Brock Purdy and was winning games for the San Francisco 49ers, there were some rumblings of there being a quarterback controversy.
Now, the national media cannot let that narrative die.
Even though Purdy has returned from injury and is undefeated in his four starts since coming back, there are still some who believe that Jones may be the long-term solution in San Francisco.
Jeff Howe of The Athletic dove into Jones’ potential trade market this offseason and wrote the following:
“Purdy is on the books for about $47 million guaranteed in 2026 but just $11.9 million in 2027. The Niners’ best strategy may be to keep Jones for another season and evaluate which QB is worth keeping from there.”
Howe is implying that the Niners keep Jones around not necessarily as just insurance for Purdy, but potentially as competition.
Sure, Purdy has had some rough moments this season like the three bad interceptions he threw against the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football a few weeks back. That performance stirred up those quarterback controversy rumblings yet again.
But Purdy has bounced back in the two games since, delivering solid performances in the cold Cleveland weather to take down the Browns and then having his best game of the season against an admittedly poor Tennessee Titans team.
He has seemed to gain more confidence each time out there and is looking more like the Purdy we saw back in 2023 when the 49ers were playoff-bound.
There is a case to be made that the Niners should not trade Jones this offseason just in case Purdy gets hurt again, which is a distinct possibility since he has been somewhat injury-prone in his career. But the notion that Jones should be kept around for when the 49ers potentially move on from Purdy seems a little more of a stretch.
The 49ers gave him that sizable contract extension because they believe he is the guy they need to get over the top. Purdy is clearly the quarterback head coach Kyle Shanahan has trusted the most in San Francisco, and while Jones seems to have gained his trust as well, Jones is not as mobile as Purdy and has nowhere near the mastery and understanding of Shanahan’s intricate offense that Purdy possesses.
Nothing is juicier than a quarterback controversy, so as long as Purdy and Jones are on the same team, expect this narrative to continue even if it is fairly outlandish.
