With Brock Purdy officially ruled out for the 49ers’ Week 2 contest against the New Orleans Saints, backup quarterback Mac Jones has been thrust back into the limelight for his first start with San Francisco.
The former No. 15 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft has performed inconsistently across his four NFL seasons with the New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars.
But his 49ers’ teammates routinely have praised Jones for his humor and locker room presence since signing with San Francisco in March.
Coach Kyle Shanahan shared more praise for Jones’ personality after Friday’s practice.
“I think Mac’s really cool. I think he is funny. I think he’s himself,” Shanahan told reporters. “My wife said, ‘He must be really funny and have a sense of humor,’ because she saw his suit that he wore last week to the game. I said, ‘I don’t think he is trying to be funny. He’s just got swag.’ So that’s just him.
“But no, Mac’s himself, makes guys laugh. He’s got a lot of energy, and I think our guys have really enjoyed him so far.”
In case you missed Jones’ colorful attire from the 49ers’ Week 1 game against the Seattle Seahawks, take a look:
Shanahan believes that off-the-field camaraderie between Jones and the rest of the team will help on Sunday in New Orleans.
“Guys play hard for guys that they like, that’s for sure,” Shanahan explained. “Cohesion is great, but it all comes down with guys in the long run just to how you play, too. But, guys definitely enjoy playing for a guy that they like more.”
To be fair to Jones, he’s more than just a locker-room glue guy; he was named to the Pro Bowl in 2021 after going 10-7 as a rookie with the Patriots. Now, he is set to get another shot at a fresh start with a banged-up 49ers squad.
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