Getty

Brock Purdy #13 and Mac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers.

The San Francisco 49ers have played much better than expected during the 2025 NFL season, considering the circumstances. The team is incredibly banged up on both sides of the football, with star quarterback Brock Purdy‘s status up in the air on a weekly basis.

Even though Purdy has played in only two games this season, the 49ers are sporting a 5-3 record heading into Week 9’s matchup against the New York Giants. San Francisco has been able to endure while competing in one of the toughest divisions in the NFL, alongside the Seattle Seahawks (5-2) and Los Angeles Rams (5-2).

49ers Reveal Starting QB for Week 9 vs. Giants

GettyMac Jones #10 of the San Francisco 49ers.

Unfortunately for Purdy, it will be one more week of him stuck on the sidelines while Mac Jones continues to start at the quarterback position.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that the team is running with Jones for Week 9 against the Giants on Sunday on the road at MetLife Stadium, even though Purdy is officially considered questionable for the game.

“It means he’s got a chance to be available,” Shanahan said during media availability. “Mac is going to be starting.”

Shanahan admitted that the team is taking a cautious approach with Purdy to prevent further injury to his toe and jeopardize his status for the rest of the season.

“The first time we let him get all those starter reps and it was great,” Shanahan said of Purdy. “And then there was a chance he could re-hurt it in the game, and he did, and he’s been out for the last month. He’s got more reps this week, but we weren’t going to commit to all of that like we did last time. So, I think it’s easing him back more than last time.”

Clearly, the 49ers coaching staff is in no rush to get Purdy under center, with Jones showing an ability to shoulder the load, which is likely the smart move.

In six games played thus far, Jones has thrown for 1,597 yards, eight touchdowns and five interceptions, with a completion percentage of 65.9 percent. He has led the team to four wins in those six appearances.

Can the 49ers Contend Without Brock Purdy?

GettyBrock Purdy #13 of the San Francisco 49ers.

With only two games in the books for Purdy, the 2025 campaign hasn’t gone as anticipated for the rising star, especially after inking his five-year, $265 million contract extension.

The 49ers finally showed Purdy how much they value him under center, but he hasn’t been able to prove his worth due to a nagging big toe injury, which has kept him sidelined for four straight weeks, which will turn into a fifth consecutive game after he was ruled out for the Giants game.

The real question moving forward is whether the 49ers can remain in the playoff picture in the NFC while also potentially being a title contender in the conference if Jones continues to lead the team under center.

It’ll be interesting to see how things pan out for the 49ers and how the team tries to remain competitive with all the injuries they’ve suffered this season while having a backup quarterback leading the way.

Ryan Ward is a longtime credentialed writer covering the NBA and NFL. He has over 15 years of experience in the sports industry from writing, editing, social media management and podcasting. He has covered the Lakers and Raiders for Medium Large Sports, with a previous stint at ClutchPoints. Ward is a Los Angeles native from the United Kingdom, who now resides in Colorado. More about Ryan Ward

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