The San Francisco 49ers won't be at full strength when they face the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4. Not only will they be without tight end George Kittle, but the likelihood that quarterback Brock Purdy won't suit up has increased considerably.
Purdy suffered shoulder and toe injuries in the opener, so his status for upcoming games was in question. A recent update just brought in a bit of clarity.
Brock Purdy may miss the game vs. the Jaguars in Week 4
Ian Rapoport of NFL Media reported on Good Morning Football that Purdy will sit out two to four weeks. The toe was the greater issue, and he's a long shot to suit up against the New Orleans Saints in Week 2.
The 49ers may not want to rush him back, so he probably won't be available against the Jags. That means that Mac Jones might get the start against his former team.
Purdy was a seventh-round pick in 2022. He became the starter as a rookie and quickly rose to prominence in the NFL. Not having him around would most definitely hurt San Francisco's chances in Week 2.
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With Brock Purdy potentially out, the Jaguars could face Mac Jones
The Jaguars traded for Mac Jones because they needed an upgrade behind Trevor Lawrence. Back in 2023, No. 16 was hampered by injuries, and not having a competent second-stringer ruined Jacksonville's playoff push.
Jones became the No. 2 behind Lawrence when C.J. Beathard suffered an injury ahead of the regular season. He was pressed into action when Lawrence suffered a shoulder injury and later when he was shut down for the season. The former Alabama standout ended up completing 65.3 percent of his throws for 1,672 yards with eight touchdowns and eight interceptions.
Of course, it's not a given that Jones will get to start against the Jaguars. It's possible that Brock Purdy's ailments aren't as serious, and he'll be ready for Week 4. Conversely, there's a chance he won't be available, and Jones will end up getting the nod.
Regardless of who ends up behind center, the Jaguars will have a prime opportunity to show that they're a different team behind Liam Coen. Sure, they'll need to take care of business with the Cincinnati Bengals and Houston Texans first, but they should feel good about their matchup against the 49ers based on the injury updates.