49ers: Mac Jones leads vs. Buccaneers, Pearsall out due to injury

Mac Jones ready to lead the 49ers against Tampa Bay

For the second week in a row and for the fourth time in the first six games, Mac Jones is expected to be the starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. Jones, who has been limited in practice due to left knee and oblique discomfort, is listed as questionable for Sunday. Despite this, coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Jones will play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“I’ve practically said he’s going to play,” Shanahan said on Friday.

Kyle Shanahan

The fourth start for Jones comes as starting quarterback Brock Purdy continues to deal with a toe injury he suffered in Week 1 and aggravated in Week 4. Purdy did not practice this week and was officially ruled out on Friday. Jones did not throw intensely in Thursday’s practice, but he did throw some on Friday. The player expressed confidence in being able to play against the Bucs, although he acknowledged that it will depend on how the rest of the week unfolds. Jones’ knee injury occurred in a preseason game against the Las Vegas Raiders, and although he recovered, he aggravated it in Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. Then he injured his oblique on the last offensive play of San Francisco against the Rams. Both Jones and the Niners have had a few extra days to recover after the Thursday night game and then implemented a plan to limit his workload this week, with the goal of having him available in Tampa for a matchup between NFC teams with a 4-1 record.

“I think if you can protect yourself, you have to go out there and play,” Jones said. “A lot of players are dealing with things. That’s the NFL, and I’ve learned that you just have to be able to go out there, protect yourself, and play… You can be tough, have a good attitude, and work on the mental and physical, and that’s all you can really ask for.”

Mac Jones

Like last week against the Rams, Jones and the 49ers’ offense will enter this game with an improvised group of receivers available at tight end and wide receiver. This is because open receiver Ricky Pearsall will miss his second consecutive game due to a right knee injury. Jauan Jennings is considered more of a game-time decision, as he practiced in a limited capacity on Thursday and Friday with rib and ankle injuries. In addition to Pearsall and possibly Jennings, the 49ers will still be without tight end George Kittle (hamstring) and wide receivers Brandon Aiyuk (knee) and Jordan Watkins (calf). That leaves the Niners once again hoping to turn to a group that includes receivers Kendrick Bourne and Demarcus Robinson and tight ends Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell to fill the void. Against the Rams, it was Bourne who emerged as Jones’s primary target, with a personal record of 142 yards on 10 receptions.

“He just gets better every week,” offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said. “He’s a player. You see a guy who is still learning to understand our offense schematically, but he gets better every week. He’s a joy to be around because he’s all in. He has a great attitude. He works at it. I think he’s a guy that, the more he’s on the field, the more he’s going to help us. And I’m really excited about what he’s done, what we expect he can continue to do.”

Klay Kubiak

In other injury news, rookie defensive tackle Alfred Collins is listed as questionable with a knee injury he suffered against the Rams. Collins did not practice on Wednesday but participated on Thursday and Friday. Cornerback Upton Stout, safety Malik Mustapha, and defensive tackle Kalia Davis are also questionable. Defensive tackle Kevin Givens (pectoral) and lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (hamstring) have also been ruled out.