Mac Jones earned his third win as the San Francisco 49ers‘ starting quarterback, leading the team to a 26-23 overtime victory over the Los Angeles Rams on October 2 at SoFi Stadium.
The quarterback delivered a strong performance, completing 33 of 49 passes for 342 yards and two touchdowns. With Brock Purdy sidelined by injuries since the Week 1 win over the Seattle Seahawks, Jones has stepped in smoothly, guiding San Francisco to three of its four victories this season.
San Francisco’s only loss came in Week 4 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, when Purdy returned to the starting lineup. On the October 5 edition of “NFL Today,” former Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan praised Jones for finding new life in the Bay Area.
“Return of the Mac,” Ryan said about Jones while also referencing the 1996 song from Mark Morrison. “That’s been the story of San Francisco’s September, The Return of the Mac, and Mac Jones. There’s a lyric in [the] second verse. They say, ‘So I’m back up in the game, running things to keep my swing, letting all the people know that I’m back to run the show.’ I think that’s the message [that] the Niners sent on [October 2].
“Despite all the injuries, Purdy being out, [George] Kittle being out, Jauan Jennings, Brandon Aiyuk, Ricky Pearsall, we’re still here [and] going to run the show. I believe they can do it for a number of reasons. No. 1, if they get healthy, [and] get those guys back and improve, they can be tough. No. 2, I think they have the best tandem of play callers, [on] offense and defense in Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh in that division.”
49ers QB Mac Jones Receives Love From Kendrick Bourne
Veteran wide receiver Kendrick Bourne was one of the players who reaped the rewards of Jones’ standout performance in Los Angeles. After the game, Bourne spoke to reporters, reflecting on how Jones guided the Niners to a solid 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.”
Mac Jones Has Found a Home With the 49ers
Bourne didn’t hold back when discussing Jones, emphasizing that the former New England Patriots quarterback is thriving in the Bay Area because his skills align perfectly with the system.
“[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.”
