The San Francisco 49ers were without Brock Purdy for much of the first half of the 2025 NFL season. His was one of many injuries that the team has dealt with thus far, and they’ve been able to stay afloat in the NFC playoff race despite the hardships.
Purdy Throws 3 First Half INTs In 49ers Win Over Panthers
One of the reasons that they were able to maintain what is now an 8-4 record was the play of their backup quarterback. In Purdy’s place, it was Mac Jones who came in and started eight games, and he posted a 5-3 record in those games. San Francisco’s passing attack became the league’s best in terms of yards with him at the helm, and there was a time when Jones was averaging the most passing yards of any QB in the NFL.
Of course, the 49ers went back to their prized, high-priced quarterback when he was healthy enough to play. Purdy is less than a year removed from signing a five-year deal worth $265 million, which made him one of the highest paid players in the league. So when he returned in Week 11 and completed 73% of his passes, threw three touchdowns and didn’t commit a turnover in a win against the Jaguars, all seemed well in San Francisco.
And then came Monday night. While the 49ers picked up a much-needed win against the Carolina Panthers, Brock Purdy was likely an interception away from being benched. He threw three picks in the first half of the game, causing the team to go conservative in the second half when Carolina was unable to turn possessions into points. Most of Purdy’s nine passes in the final were underneath, low-yardage attempts.
Dating back to last season, Purdy has now thrown 11 interceptions in his last 7 starts.
Will San Francisco Consider Inserting Mac Jones?
Where do the 49ers go from here? At 8-4, they are in the thick of the postseason race. San Francisco is in third in the NFC West, but only 1.5 games separate them from the division lead. Every game, and every possession, will be important down the stretch, and Kyle Shanahan’s team can’t afford any avoidable setbacks.
While Mac Jones may seem like a logical option given his success, a quarterback change seems unlikely. Purdy’s 2025 season sample size is now just four games, and his massive contract extension hasn’t even kicked in yet. The team will certainly give him more time to figure things out, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be a change of some kind.
Shanahan May Dial Back The Playcalling
Given his struggles dating back to 2024, the 49ers could do their best to “hide” Purdy as they did in the second half of Monday’s game. The offense could become more conservative, leaning on the run game and short passes, which could limit the possibility of back-breaking turnovers.
Purdy will be tested next week. The Cleveland Browns are coming to town for a Week 13 battle, and while they are 3-8, they boast one of the top defenses in the league. Their secondary has allowed the second-fewest yards in the NFL so far this season, and they are coming off of a game in which they notched 10 quarterback sacks.
If Brock Purdy doesn’t perform well against Cleveland, then the 49ers may evaluate their options during the following bye week.
