Mac Jones has stepped up massively for the 49ers while Brock Purdy was sidelined with a turf toe injury.
Week by week, Purdy slowly made progress but he and the 49ers wanted to be extra cautious with his recovery. Alas, coach Kyle Shanahan told NBC Sports Bay Area’s Matt Maiocco on “49ers Game Plan” that the fourth-year pro will return to the field and start for San Francisco’s Week 11 matchup with the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Purdy, speaking to the media after practice Thursday, said his return had nothing to do with the so-called “quarterback controversy” surrounding himself and Jones during his injury absence, but rather was based on how he was feeling physically.
“I mean, I absolutely love Mac and what he’s done,” Purdy said. “He came in and played extremely well and kept our team alive, moving and going. So I appreciate him for that and everything that he’s brought to our team. But for me, it’s been, how do I feel physically? It has nothing to do with I need to get back out there for the political side of things. It’s been all about how do I feel really good to go back and lead when I do get back?
“Obviously, it took six games, sadly, on the second side of things, after re-aggravating it. But I want to be smart about this with my career and everything. But at the same time, I’m ready to roll. We got seven games ahead of us that I’m really excited about.”
With Jones’ success under center as Purdy’s temporary replacement, many outsiders believed the 49ers should keep him rolling with the offense even after Purdy returned.
But Shanahan, general manager John Lynch and the rest of the 49ers organization made it clear that, once healthy, Purdy is their guy, and this is his team.
Jones started eight of the 49ers’ first 10 games of the season, including the past six games. The 49ers are 5-3 with Jones as the starter.
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