The San Francisco 49ers endured a season-worst 42-26 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, exposing defensive weaknesses and infuriating fans. This defeat sparked enormous mistrust surrounding John Lynch, who decided not to make any major signings during the trade deadline.
That decision sent a message that the current roster would be enough to keep the 49ers competitive until the end of the season. However, the Week 10 loss sparked heated debates even about which quarterback to start after another strong performance by Mac Jones amid Brock Purdy’s return.
John Lynch Decides Not to Pick a Favorite Between Brock Purdy and Mac Jones
Unlike most fans and local media, the 49ers’ general manager decided to stay out of this debate. As reported by David Lombardi, Lynch limited himself to saying, “I think we’ve made our feelings clear on it. We love having them both.”
This indicates he will not interfere in any possible debates between Kyle Shanahan and his assistants.
Purdy remained sidelined with his right big toe injury against the Rams last Sunday. Shanahan explained that while Purdy was not fully healthy, he could have been available as a backup to Jones in Week 10. This situation put additional pressure on the current starting quarterback, despite his convincing performance the previous weekend.
Jones made his eighth start and gave Shanahan another dilemma to ponder. The coach must decide whether to keep Jones or return Purdy to the starting lineup. The QB may not regain his full physical form after missing several weeks because of a foot injury.
John Lynch: “I think we’ve made our feelings clear on it: We love having them both.” https://t.co/MSUOokgBgX
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) November 13, 2025
The 49ers have not clarified the circumstances under which they will start Purdy again. They might start him next week against the Arizona Cardinals.
Shanahan said in an interview last week, “This is Brock’s team,” but Purdy’s consistency as the 49ers’ quarterback casts doubt on that statement.
Does It Make Sense For The 49ers to Leave Mac Jones On The Bench?
Jones (who currently ranks 13th in the PFSN QB Impact with a B- grade) completed 33 of 39 passes for 319 yards against the Rams, with three touchdowns and one interception, one of the best performances by a 49ers quarterback in years.
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Considering his eight games as a starter, Jones ranks second among all quarterbacks in the league in average passing yards per game (268.9). He has accumulated a 5-3 record despite a highly rotating roster of players in other positions.
Last week’s scenario suggests that Purdy may return to the starting lineup even if he does not reach 100% of his physical capacity. This move would increase the risk of injury to his toe and prevent Jones from maintaining his consistency. This decision could certainly define the fate of the 49ers’ season.