While most of the attention on the San Francisco 49ers’ defensive issues goes towards the defensive line, which is understandable given all the injuries and the inconsistency when it comes to getting pressure on the quarterback, the secondary should not escape criticism either.
Especially when it comes to cornerback Jack Jones.
The Niners have had to lean on him the last few weeks with Upton Stout dealing with an injury, and Jones has not exactly lived up to his billing as a solid veteran who some thought could potentially even challenge Renardo Green for his starting job.
Jones had a very poor game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. He made multiple costly penalties in key spots that gave the Falcons a first down and allowed them to continue their drive. He just looked slow and outmatched at times, and eventually, head coach Kyle Shanahan got fed up and replaced him with rookie Ephesians Prysock.
Shanahan said after the game of this change, per Matt Barrows of The Athletic: “That wasn’t something planned. We were just frustrated with some of the penalties and stuff and wanted to give [Prysock] a shot.”
This wasn’t as dramatic as when Shanahan barked at Green on the sideline in the playoffs against the Seattle Seahawks last season, but the fact Jones got benched in favor of a rookie shows the former may be out of favor in San Francisco going forward and might potentially be cut.
49ers should get reinforcements at cornerback soon
Stout should be back after the bye week, which would put Jones in a bench role. But maybe if Nate Hobbs, another veteran San Francisco signed in the offseason, can get healthy, he could supplant Jones as that veteran cornerback option.
The 49ers should also explore the trade route. They don’t have to emulate the Indianapolis Colts who snagged Sauce Gardner last season, but just adding a solid No. 3 or No. 4 option to shore up their depth a little bit could be a smart move.
The bye week comes at a perfect time for a host of reasons. The Niners have a chance to reevaluate a lot of things, and Jones may be part of that reevaluation.
Maybe we should have known he’d be a problem all along after that clip of him talking about Brock Purdy resurfaced after San Francisco signed him.
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