49ers' HC, Mac Jones give big updates after report about Falcons game

A Thursday report revealed that the San Francisco 49ers (4-2) were planning on starting backup quarterback Mac Jones instead of injured QB1 Brock Purdy when they host the Atlanta Falcons (3-2) on Sunday night. 

Per David Bonilla of 49ers WebZone, San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters on Thursday that Jones "most likely will" get the nod for the Falcons game. The signal-caller was previously dealing with knee and oblique soreness, but Jones offered a positive update regarding his status after participating fully in Thursday's practice. 

Mac Jones will "feel good" for Falcons game

"Yeah, just being out there at practice and working through it and taking it day-by-day," Jones responded when asked if he's feeling better than he did a week ago, per the 49ers' website. "But definitely felt like I needed to practice regardless of how it felt and get the timing and everything down, so we feel good about it during the game."

Jones initially aggravated a PCL injury on Sept. 21 and then ended San Francisco's Week 5 overtime victory at the Los Angeles Rams on Oct. 2 with an oblique issue. As for Purdy, he missed Weeks 2 and 3 due to a toe injury that he reaggravated in the 49ers' Week 4 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sept. 28. 

According to the Thursday report, the 49ers don't want to risk Purdy possibly suffering "another relapse, another injury, another reaggravation" by rushing him back into action before he's fully healthy. Meanwhile, Jones won his first three starts of the season before the 49ers' 30-19 Week 6 loss at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 12. 

Mac Jones' "mental toughness" has helped him deal with latest setbacks

Jones should have star tight end George Kittle as a weapon against the Falcons, as he is on track to play for the first time since he tore his hamstring in Week 1. As for Jones, he sounded determined to play on Sunday night unless Purdy experiences an unexpected recovery.

"I’m going to be out there if I can, and I know my team needs me," Jones added during his comments. "I put a lot into it in the offseason, and it’s really just mental toughness. So yeah, I definitely want to move around a little better. I’ve been working on that and I’ve had a chance to practice this week, so I definitely feel like that’ll help." 

As of Friday morning, ESPN BET had the 49ers as 2.5-point favorites over the Falcons.