Brock Purdy’s Toe Injury Could Lead to Mac Jones Starting Against the Saints
In a shocking injury update, San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan told the media on Monday September 8, 2025 that starting quarterback Brock Purdy is dealing with toe and left shoulder injuries that could keep him out for the 49ers’ Week 2 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. 
Purdy’s toe is the bigger concern, according to Shanahan.
If Purdy is out against the Saints, backup QB Mac Jones would start in his place.
Purdy has been healthy seemingly all offseason. He did miss two games last season, Week 12 against the Green Bay Packers and Week 18 against the Arizona Cardinals, with right elbow and shoulder injuries.
Purdy completed 26 of 35 passes for 277 yards and two passing touchdowns in the 49ers’ 17-13 win over the Seattle Seahawks. He also threw two interceptions in the game.
San Francisco played without wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle and Jauan Jennings both exited the game with injuries.
If Jones has to start with San Francisco’s already depleted supporting cast around him, it will be a tough assignment for him on Sunday against the Saints.
Who Would Back Jones Up?
The 49ers don’t have a third quarterback on their active roster. And after all of the offseason reshuffling at the QB3 position, drafting Kurtis Rourke and signing and cutting and resigning a couple of guys named Tanner Mordecai and Carter Bradley, many 49ers fans might not actually know who their QB3 is.
Well, their QB3 is on the practice squad, and he’s a guy named Adrian Martinez. Martinez is a Fresno native and a Clovis West High School legend who played at Nebraska and Kansas State in college.
He spent the preseason with the New York Jets.
If Brock Purdy misses the game and the 49ers somehow still blow out the Saints, leading Shanahan to put Martinez in the game for garbage time, it would mark his NFL debut.
Or, God forbid, if Jones suffers some kind of serious injury forcing Martinez into the game. Crazier things have happened for the 49ers, unfortunately. Niners fans will remember well when their fourth string quarterback got hurt in the NFC championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles, leaving the 49ers with no one to throw the football.
Bad News For George Kittle
Shanahan also shared updates on the 49ers’ offensive stars that departed the game against Seattle with injuries.
George Kittle is unfortunately going to miss “a few weeks” with a hamstring injury, per Shanahan.
Look for Week 1 hero Jake Tonges to step up and receive the lions’ share of targets at tight end in Kittle’s absence. TE2 Luke Farrell is also a former teammate of Jones, so perhaps they have some chemistry that will lead to more targets for Farrell if Jones is forced to start.
Jauan Jennings’ MRI thankfully came back clear, but the 49ers are awaiting the results of his CT scan to know more about if he can play.
Yikes. Is anyone on this offense truly healthy besides Ricky Pearsall?
What do you think of all these injuries, 49ers fans? Will San Francisco’s injury luck ever turn around?
Aaron Rodgers' debut saved a Steelers' recent draft pick from being put under a microscope for his Week 1 performance
Aaron Rodgers was the catalyst behind the Pittsburgh Steelers' comeback win in Week 1. It was his MVP-like performance along with Chris Boswell's leg that willed the Steelers to victory. But he is no longer the rising tide that lifts all boats.
He can be a distributor whose decision-making, ball placement, and experience allow the Steelers' offense to succeed. But at almost 42 years old, he's obviously not as spry as he once was. Which makes him more of a sitting duck in the pocket, and puts pressure on his tackles to succeed.
Well, if the Pittsburgh Steelers lost that game and Aaron Rodgers didn't put up those numbers, LT Broderick Jones would be facing a lot of heat right now. Because when you see what his tape looked like, it's far from pretty.
Broderick Jones struggles mightily in Week 1
Watching the game live, I thought it was clear that Jones was struggling. He looked out of sorts, but I thought a lot of his struggles came down to what was happening with the coverage. That perhaps Rodgers was holding onto the ball for a tad too long.
That couldn't have been further from the truth.
When you turn on the tape, you see a player who struggled with power, with getting his hands up, with getting his shoulders square to the pass rusher. Jones finished the game with four pressures allowed and three sacks allowed, earning 54.5 grade per PFF, though the grade should be taken with a grain of salt.
Part of me says be patient, give him time and let's not forget this was his first real experinece at LT in the NFL.
The other part of me says, let's get the ball rolling here.
I know he was a LT with the Georgia Bulldogs and I know he's played two years in Pittsburgh. But all those habits he learned at RT, he has to unlearn them now at LT. All of the work he needed coming out of Georgia to be a stable left tackle, well that timeline is just starting.
And to be quite honest with you, the Steelers only have themselves to blame for that.
