SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Whereas quarterback Brock Purdy slowly works his method again from harm, the San Francisco 49ers will as soon as once more flip to Mac Jones because the starter for Sunday’s NFC West showdown in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams.
For the second consecutive week, Purdy is formally listed as questionable due to the precise large toe harm he initially suffered in Week 1 and aggravated in Week 4. Purdy once more was a restricted participant in all three days of observe this week however couldn’t get to a degree the place the Niners are able to plug him again into the beginning lineup.
“It is going to be Mac once more beginning,” coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned Friday. “We haven’t determined whether or not to make (Purdy) energetic or not, however he’s additional alongside this week than final week.”
Earlier than final week’s recreation in opposition to the New York Giants, Shanahan mentioned there was an opportunity Purdy may very well be Jones’ backup and even function the emergency third signal-caller behind Jones and Adrian Martinez. That didn’t occur, and after the sport Shanahan mentioned Purdy wasn’t all that near being able to go.
This week, Purdy ramped up his observe workload, and although he nonetheless wasn’t a full participant, he did take extra reps with the beginning offense. Whether or not Purdy can serve in any type of backup function Sunday will depend upon how he feels as the sport will get nearer.
If Purdy isn’t energetic in opposition to the Rams, will probably be the eighth recreation he has missed this season. Jones has gone 5-2 in his place, averaging 261.7 passing yards per recreation (fourth within the NFL), whereas throwing 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions for a 61.2 QBR.
Jones has performed via a number of accidents of his personal, together with a pair of knee points that had him on the harm report till the previous couple of weeks. His resilience has helped win over the Niners locker room.
“That’s a giant purpose why I play, to be trustworthy, is to get the respect of individuals I belief and people who I’d take an opinion from,” Jones mentioned. “I attempt to present that every single day. I’ve to proceed to do this. It’s not a one-game factor, so I wish to present it for the entire season. That’s my objective.”
Jones will once more be with out broad receiver Ricky Pearsall, who has been out since Week 4 with an injured proper knee. Pearsall didn’t observe all week and has been dominated out.
Shanahan mentioned Friday that Pearsall has been progressing however has but to hit all of the benchmarks required to return. Like many groups, the Niners used GPS monitoring for issues like velocity and distance to find out if a participant is again or near full power.
“He hasn’t been capable of hit his regular speeds that’ll permit him to return again,” Shanahan mentioned. “Simply ready till he hits these markers.”
Elsewhere on the harm report, the 49ers continued to take hits of their already banged-up line of defense room. Early in Thursday’s observe, defensive tackles Alfred Collins (hip) and Kalia Davis (ankle) and defensive finish Keion White (groin) suffered accidents that restricted them. The attrition on the line of defense compelled the Niners to decelerate the observe and reduce out some reps simply to get via it.
On Friday, Collins didn’t take part, whereas White and Davis have been restricted once more. All three are listed as questionable, with Collins maybe a step behind the opposite two as a result of he was unable to observe. That on a line of defense that has misplaced beginning ends Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams to season-ending ACL accidents and positioned Yetur Gross-Matos on injured reserve with a hamstring challenge final week.
“It was positively unlucky,” Shanahan mentioned. “Glad that every one these guys nonetheless have an opportunity to play on Sunday so hopefully these subsequent 48 hours go nicely. Nevertheless it’s by no means a superb feeling when three go away like that.”
The 49ers did get some excellent news on the harm entrance Friday. Defensive finish Bryce Huff and middle Jake Brendel have recovered from their hamstring accidents and can play in opposition to the Rams.
Guard Ben Bartch, who has been on injured reserve with an ankle ailment, will probably be activated and out there in opposition to the Rams as nicely.
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