After dropping their first game of the season in Week 4 to the Jacksonville Jaguars, the San Francisco 49ers were looking to go into Los Angeles and come out with a statement victory over the Rams on Thursday Night Football.
With both teams entering the game with a 3-1 record, this is a significant NFC matchup that could potentially serve as a preview of the playoffs. Unfortunately for the 49ers, they had to play this game without their $265 million starting quarterback, Brock Purdy.
Interestingly enough, however, backup quarterback Mac Jones thoroughly impressed early in the game, causing many fans to call for Purdy’s starting job.
NFL Fans in Agreement That Jones Should Start for the 49ers Over Purdy
After Jones completed 12 of his first 15 passes on the night for 147 yards and two touchdowns, fans took to social media to push San Francisco to start him over Purdy.
One fan said it very plainly, saying, “Bench Purdy and Start Mac Jones.”
Bench purdy and start mac jones
— unpopular_opinions (@Jhin345) October 3, 2025
Other fans also agreed, saying, “Bench Purdy,” and “Purdy’s job is gone.”
While these are just fans, Sports Illustrated’s 49ers insider Grant Cohn seemed to share the opinion that Jones should start, saying, “It’s so refreshing to watch a 49ers quarterback who throws the ball on time and in rhythm.”
It’s so refreshing to watch a 49ers quarterback who throws the ball on time and in rhythm.
— Grant Cohn (@grantcohn) October 3, 2025
Cohn also added that “it’s so refreshing to see a 49ers quarterback with a strong arm.” Between the two tweets about Jones, it’s clear who he’d rather see start for San Francisco.
Fans responded in agreement with Cohn, calling for Purdy’s departure, with one saying, “Purdy needs to go, I’ve seen enough.”
Purdy needs to go. I’ve seen enough
— Max Stone (@Max____Stone) October 3, 2025
A common theme among fans who want Jones to start is that Purdy appears to be a “system quarterback.” One fan even used this as a reason to want him traded, saying, “Told y’all Brock Purdy is a system QB! Trade him NOW!!!”
Told y’all Brock is a system QB! Trade him NOW!!!
— DizNutz (@TurdySukNutz) October 3, 2025
To say this is disheartening for the 49ers would be an understatement, as though they’re seeing success with Jones, they gave Purdy a whopping five-year $265 million contract extension this past May. To make matters worse, even long-time NFL announcer Al Michaels said on the ‘Thursday Night Football’ broadcast that there may be a quarterback controversy coming for the 49ers.
Al Michaels sayin a QB controversy is on the way hahahhahahahahah
— Cousin Kenny (@CuzzinKenny) October 3, 2025
Fortunately for San Francisco, however, the analytics say they made the right decision in paying Purdy. Despite Jones presenting a strong performance, Purdy beats him in each of the following categories: End of 1H EPA/dropback, 2nd half EPA/dropback, Close game EPA/dropback, TOTAL EPA / dropback, 3rd down conversion rate, net YPA (2.1 full yards better), Clean EPA/dropback, Pressured EPA/dropback, PFSN’s CLUTCH Impact grade.
Purdy’s career QBi – also known as quarterback impact – of 98.7 is also much better than Jones’, as it sits at just 68.2. Furthermore, Jones’ best quarterback grade of his career has been this season, with a grade of 80.4, whereas the worst season grade for Purdy in his career is an 85.6.
Though Jones did impress against the Rams, it’s clear who the best quarterback on their team is, and it’s implausible that the 49ers will make him the full-time starter.
