Mac Jones steps in for Brock Purdy, helps 49ers sink Saints
“”He was like, ‘Just go hoop, dude, go make plays,'” Jones said. “And I was like, ‘All right, if Trent Williams can say that then, I can do it. So that kind of just got me calmed down a little bit.”
Indeed, after his rough start, Jones settled in and authored one of the best starts of his career, finishing 26-of-39 passing for 279 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions for a passer rating of 113.1. He was even better in some of the game’s
biggest moments, going 7-of-12 for 121 yards and all three scores on third down, becoming the first 49ers quarterback since Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 9 of 2019 to throw that many third-down touchdowns in a game.“
Mac Jones overcomes nerves, rewards 49ers’ confidence and buys Brock Purdy time (paywall)
“Jones’ next drive ended with an Eddy Piñeiro field goal — both of his field goal attempts went right down the middle, though he missed an extra point — and the one after that was capped by a 46-yard score to Jennings.
The play is a favorite of Shanahan’s, one in which three receivers line up on the right side with Jennings on the left. The Saints played it a little differently than expected by dropping a linebacker deep into coverage. It wasn’t a problem. Jennings and Jones read it the same way, allowing Jennings to coast into the end zone untouched.“
Nick Bosa says Week 2 hero Bryce Huff is seeing ‘resurgence’ with 49ers (paywall)
““I mean, he’s a hand-in-the-ground player,” Bosa said Sunday. “He’s not an outside backer. He could rush like anybody in the league. We knew that. Obviously, Saleh knew that. And I’m really happy to have him. … His time in Philly, obviously, winning a Super Bowl is great, but I don’t think they utilized him great. So kind of a resurgence for him.”
An Alabama native, Huff said about a dozen family and friends were in attendance as he properly introduced himself to the many 49ers faithful in attendance at the Superdome: “The lower levels looked like a home game almost. It really got louder that last play, especially.”
Battered 49ers limp home with plenty of swagger at 2-0 after gutty win in New Orleans (paywall)
““All our guys have bruises on their arms after practice because Fred is always trying to punch the ball out at practice,” Pearsall said.
On Warner’s forced fumble, Kamara caught the ball on a swing pass at a weird angle and was trying to bring the ball down from near his head when the thundering footsteps of Warner got louder and louder.
“I came in thinking I was going to catch the ball when it flies off his head, but time kind of slowed down, and I was able to punch it out,” Warner said. “I knew he was still up — that’s why they didn’t show it on the big screen.”
Trey who? Mac Jones finally got his chance to show how well he fits with 49ers (paywall)
“Mac Jones’ teammates ran to the right corner of the end zone to greet running back Christian McCaffrey on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers quarterback jogged left, nonchalantly, his arms at his side, headed to the sideline.
Jones had just led a 77-yard drive, capping it with a scoring toss to McCaffrey seven seconds before halftime. Quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi excitedly greeted Jones by grabbing his helmet with both hands and shaking it. A parade of teammates slapped him on the back. And yet Jones barely broke stride, moving quickly through his well-wishers before finding a seat on the bench and grabbing a cup of water.
It looked like a been-there, done-that celebration from Jones. And of course he had. Before the 49ers’ 26-21 win over the Saints on Sunday, however, it just had been a very long time.
In a private moment, Jones cackled again when he was asked about his low-key reaction to his scoring pass to McCaffrey. Was that an example of his “swagger” that McCaffrey mentioned after the game? Jones broke into a broad smile.
“I was tired as crap is what happened,” Jones said. “I mean, I was really tired. The offensive line was trying to celebrate with me, but I was like, ‘Guys, I need some water.’ I definitely wasn’t being cool.”
49ers pull off 26-21 win over Saints to remain undefeated, despite new injuries (paywall)
“49ers pull off 26-21 win over Saints to remain undefeated, despite new injuriesGuys like (Bosa), Bryce Huff, they’re closers,” defensive coordinator Robert Saleh said earlier in the week. “I joke about it, but it’s also hard truth: Even in baseball, you got this guy who comes in and closes the ninth inning, he plays once every (several) games … and he gets paid a junk-ton of money.”
What we learned as Mac Jones fills in admirably in 49ers’ Week 2 win
“The 49ers open the season with back-to-back road wins, and return to Levi’s Stadium for their next two games against the Arizona Cardinals and Jacksonville Jaguars.”
