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There’s a logjam of 5-2 teams in the NFC entering Week 8 of the 2025 NFL season. That includes three teams in the NFC West division: the Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers.
Seattle and Los Angeles have the week off with their byes. Week 8 offers an opportunity for the 49ers to get ahead in the win column over their division rivals.
They do, however, have a lingering question mark over the quarterback position.
San Francisco starter Brock Purdy has dealt with a lasting toe injury suffered in Week 1 against Seattle. He made a return in Week 4 against Jacksonville but re-aggravated the toe injury and hasn’t played since.
Free agent signee Mac Jones has stepped up in his absence. With Jones under center, the 49ers have been the top passing offense by yards in the NFL. He’s 4-1 as a starter with a win over the Atlanta Falcons on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 7.
This week, San Francisco takes on a familiar face for the first time. The 49ers head southeast to take on the Houston Texans, who are led by their former defensive coordinator, DeMeco Ryans.
Will it be Jones or Purdy under center in Week 8 against Ryans and the Texans‘ top-ranked defense? Here’s the latest on Purdy’s status for Sunday.
Brock Purdy injury update
San Francisco has ruled Purdy out once again, per multiple reports. This remains one of the longer-term injuries for the 49ers on offense along with wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, who remains out while recovering from a torn ACL and MCL.
#49ers injury report:
OUT: Brock Purdy (toe), Ricky Pearsall (knee), Jake Brendel (hamstring, Bryce Huff (hamstring), Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE: Deommodore Lenoir (quad,) Luke Gifford (hamstring), Spencer Burford
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) October 24, 2025
Purdy practiced this week in a limited fashion but did not progress enough to get the all-clear for the start. This marks his sixth game missed this season.
General manager John Lynch is confident Purdy’s getting closer to returning to the field for San Francisco.
“It’s been pretty consistent,” Lynch said. “He’s doing a really good job, we’re taking the appropriate measures and what I can tell you is he gets better each week, each day. I do think we’re getting closer to him returning but a hard timeline because it’s kind of a feel thing and how he feels, that’s still out there and (to be determined).
“We’re trusting Brock, we’re trusting the doctors. We’ll make a good decision on it and that’s why it’s taking some time.”
The 49ers will also be without wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for a fourth consecutive week.
49ers QB depth chart
Jones appeared on the injury report as well this week with knee and oblique injuries but was not limited in practice on Wednesday or Thursday.
Martinez started the year on the 49ers’ practice squad but was elevated to the active roster and will be the team’s second quarterback on Sunday. Rourke is not expected to play at all this season.