49ers' Mac Jones Leads Victory over Saints in Brock Purdy's Absence

Mac Jones stepped in for the injured Brock Purdy and led the San Francisco 49ers to a 26-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints, throwing for 279 yards and tying his career high with three touchdown passes. Despite missing key players like Purdy, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk, Jones efficiently managed the offense, completing 26 of 39 passes and targeting 10 different receivers. Coach Kyle Shanahan demonstrated confidence in Jones by emphasizing the passing game early and throughout the contest, deviating from his usual run-heavy strategy. Shanahan values having two reliable quarterbacks, expressing strong trust in Jones as a backup to Purdy, who is recovering from turf toe and might return sooner than expected. This quarterback depth is seen as a significant advantage for the 49ers moving forward. Jones' performance reassures the team that the quarterback position is secure even amid injuries.