The San Francisco 49ers walked away from Week 1 with a win, but it wasn’t without bruises. Their 17-13 victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday was a strong start to the season, yet injuries once again cast a shadow over the team.
Tight end George Kittle tweaked his hamstring and is expected to miss multiple weeks. Receiver Jauan Jennings hurt his shoulder and still needs further testing. And, perhaps most concerning of all, quarterback Brock Purdy is now dealing with two injuries of his own.
What’s the Status of Brock Purdy, and Who Can Take Over if He Misses Time?
Head coach Kyle Shanahan revealed after the game that Purdy hurt his left shoulder and toe, though the latter injury is the one that is causing the most concern. Both issues happened while Purdy was under heavy pressure; Seattle’s defense hit him on nearly 60% of his dropbacks.
Brock Purdy’s injury is to his left non-throwing shoulder. It happened when he was hit on an attempted pass to Ricky Pearsall, so technically a result of the career-high pressure rate of nearly 60% that Purdy faced. He did finish and win the game with both the shoulder and toe…
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) September 8, 2025
Still, he gutted it out, threw the go-ahead touchdown late, and sealed the win. The question is whether he’ll be ready when the 49ers face the Saints this Sunday.
If Purdy can’t go, the responsibility falls on backup quarterback Mac Jones. The 2021 first-round pick, who arrived in San Francisco after a rollercoaster run with the New England Patriots, now has a chance to prove himself in a new system.
Mac Jones Potentially Taking Over, Offense Filled With Injuries
The 49ers don’t need Jones to be a superstar, but he will have to make some magic happen if he plays, due to multiple injuries in the offense.
Shanahan’s offense thrives on timing and rhythm, and Jones’s background in New England’s structured system should help him adapt quickly. A game plan built on short throws, screens, and play-action passing would play to his strengths while taking pressure off his shoulders.
Of course, missing weapons like Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and possibly Jennings complicates things. Their absences could force San Francisco to rely even more on McCaffrey.
That’s where the defense comes in. Nick Bosa’s game-clinching strip-sack against Sam Darnold in Week 1 was a reminder this team is built to win in all three phases.
The defense gives the 49ers breathing room, allowing the offense to lean on its depth instead of asking too much from a backup quarterback.
Purdy’s condition is day-to-day, and the 49ers will keep a careful eye on him all week long. However, Jones is next in line to lead San Francisco if Purdy’s toe doesn’t recover in time.
The 49ers think they can stay on course with the appropriate game plan and the roster surrounding Jones, even though it’s hardly the situation anyone in the Bay Area would have wanted going into Week 2.
