Through ten weeks of the 2025 NFL season, the San Francisco 49ers have the top passing offense in the league. No team has thrown for more air yards, and it has been Mac Jones who has led the charge with a 268.9 yards per game average. But he’ll be on the sidelines during Sunday’s game against the Cardinals, as head coach Kyle Shanahan has announced that Brock Purdy will return to the starting spot.
Brock Purdy Will Start For 49ers In Week 11
Purdy has played in just two games so far this season. After signing a lucrative contract extension in the offseason, the 4th-year pro has dealt with a turf toe injury that he sustained in Week 1, which was aggravated when he tried to rush back three weeks later.
Brock Purdy will return as San Francisco’s starting quarterback Sunday vs. the Arizona Cardinals, HC Kyle Shanahan told the 49ers Game Plan. pic.twitter.com/wxEB5HWgbq
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 13, 2025
Jones took over, and has been one of the top passers in the league during his eight starts. He is less than a yard off of the lead in yards per game (Stafford, 269.7), and he has posted a record of 5-3 while being surrounded by some of the worst injury luck in the NFL. Under Shanahan’s tutelage, Jones has enjoyed something of a career resurgence in 2025, and he gave the 49ers little reason to rush Purdy back into action.
But Brock Purdy is apparently healthy enough to give it another go, meaning that Mac Jones will be wearing a headset on the sideline on Sunday.
Should San Francisco Stick With Mac Jones?
Is it the correct move? The team certainly feels an obligation to make Purdy the starter whenever he is available, as the only recently made him one of the highest paid QBs in the league. He’s brought the team plenty of success during his young career, and they’re going to stick with the commitment that they made in the offseason.
"The hot quarterback is Mac Jones. The healthy quarterback is Mac Jones. I would be in no rush to bring back Brock Purdy."@colincowherd does a blind resume comparison between Jones and other top QBs around the league pic.twitter.com/rbSz641o4J
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) November 13, 2025
Even when he has been available, Purdy hasn’t been great in his recent showings. In his last five appearances dating back to last season, he has thrown eight interceptions, including two in each game that he has played this season. He hasn’t been able to regain the levels of success that he enjoyed in 2023 when he finished 4th in MVP voting, but the 49ers are hoping that changes down the stretch this year.
San Francisco is currently sitting in 3rd place in the NFC West. They are 1.5 games behind both the Seahawks and the Rams, but have a favorable schedule the rest of the way and could make a run for the postseason if Purdy can continue the momentum in the passing game.
