Mac Jones' performance in 49ers' win over Los Angeles Rams could end up being a headache for Kyle Shanahan down the road

If you told a San Francisco 49ers fan, they would win a road game in Week 5 against a 3-1 Los Angeles Rams team to take sole possession of the division lead at 4-1, they probably don't bat an eye. But if you added context to that win, and said it would come without Jauan Jennings, Ricky Pearsall, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Nick Bosa, and Brock Purdy, even the most optimistic 49ers fan wouldn't have taken that bet.

Yet, that's exactly what Kyle Shanahan, Robert Saleh, and Mac Jones did on Thursday night. Down every offensive starter in their skill group outside of Christian McCaffrey, Jones had his best game of the year, propelling the 49ers to 4-1 and winning his third game as a starter.

So, what does that mean for Brock Purdy, the recently paid quarterback who has been injured throughout the season and hasn't played the best ball? It means that Kyle Shanahan will have a very difficult yet obvious decision to make going forward.

Kyle Shanahan has to keep rolling with the hot hand, name Mac Jones the starter

The real winner in all this is Shanahan. Despite consistent attempts by other coordinators and coaches to mimic his scheme and offensive identity, he churns out wins and gutsy performances with some of the most injury-riddled rosters we have seen in recent memory.

That being said, Jones is now undefeated as a starter this season, completing over 66 percent of his passes, averaging over 300 yards passing, and two TDs to go with less than one interception per game. Sure, his first two wins came against the New Orleans Saints and Arizona Cardinals, but he saved his best of the year thus far for the Rams.

To play through an injury on his throwing arm, reaggravate his knee, and have two viable options via Kendrick Bourne and McCaffrey, and still throw for over 340 yards and two touchdowns on the road is wildly impressive.

“He played his ass off," said Shanahan of Jones after the game. "[He] was unbelievable in the first half. Got banged up in the second half and battled through it and protected the ball going against that defense. Throwing the ball that many times without having a turnover. I can’t say enough good things about Mac.”

Now, I won't sit here and say Jones is an MVP candidate, or even a franchise-caliber player in the league. He has deficiencies for sure. What I will say is that if I were Shanahan, I would ensure that Purdy is 100 percent healthy before I even consider placing him back in the lineup. I'd roll with Jones until he proves otherwise. Currently, one is clearly performing better than the other.