Report updates if 49ers could have Mac Jones, Brock Purdy QB controversy on their hands

Whispers about whether or not the San Francisco 49ers could and maybe even should continue to start quarterback Mac Jones after Brock Purdy recovers from his lingering toe injury continue to hover over the 49ers following their gutsy 26-23 overtime victory at the Los Angeles Rams back on Oct. 2. 

During Monday's edition of "The Pat McAfee Show," ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter indicated that San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan isn't considering sitting a healthy Purdy this fall. 

49ers "absolutely" sticking with original QB depth chart

"I still think it is absolutely Brock Purdy's job," Schefter directly said, per David Bonilla of 49ers Webzone. "I don't even think it's a question. Mac Jones did say the right things because I think that's the real situation right now, where he's going to be in a situation where he's called upon when Brock's not playing, and he'll step in and play the way he did. It was fantastic." 

Schefter was referring to how Jones insisted after the win over the Rams that "Brock's the starter of this team." Purdy reaggravated a previous toe injury in San Francisco's 26-21 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4 on Sept. 28. 

"He's got a two-year contract, so he's gonna be there for a couple of years, unless, all of a sudden, he's got value," Schefter said about Jones. "But Brock Purdy, they just paid, and he's going to be the guy."

Specifically, the 49ers signed Purdy to a five-year, $265M contract extension that included $181M in guarantees and a no-trade clause this past spring. That said, it's fair to wonder if Shanahan and Co. could stick with a hot hand. 

Jones has thus far gone 3-0 as San Francisco's temporary QB1, and he seems to be on track to start this coming Sunday's game at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1). According to Pro Football Reference, Jones enters Week 6 tied for 12th in the league among qualified players with a 66.9 adjusted QBR for the season. Over his three wins, he tossed six touchdown passes and one interception. 

49ers have "rebuilt" Mac Jones after his time with New England Patriots

"Firstly, he's been unbelievable," Schefter added about Jones. "And I think people were surprised at how well he's played, but the environment has elevated his performance. And there aren't a lot of people who would have thought on 'Thursday Night Football' ... that Mac Jones would have led that team to the victory that he did. But they've rebuilt him, they've reprogrammed him, and he's playing the way that they thought he would when he left Alabama, and [the 49ers] considered taking him [in the 2021 NFL Draft]."

As of Tuesday morning, ESPN BET had the 4-1 49ers as 2.5-point underdogs against the Buccaneers. It could be interesting to see if that line shifts whenever Shanahan reveals the identity of his starting quarterback for that matchup.