Let's make this clear from the get-go: Brock Purdy is a better overall quarterback than Mac Jones, and things would have to go truly awful for the San Francisco 49ers for them to make a permanent switch under center.
Don't confuse conjecture with reality, especially when the former inked a $265 million extension last offseason.
That said, Purdy's two-game absence because of a toe injury opened up the door for Jones to have his own renaissance, helping the Niners win two gritty games: Week 2 over the New Orleans Saints and Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. In that most recent contest, Jones' two-minute drill at the end of regulation that led to a game-winning field goal was near perfection.
To date, Jones is completing 66.3 percent of his passes and has 563 pass yards with four touchdowns against one interception, all for a passer rating of 98.1. Already, Purdy's critics have started chanting how any modestly decent signal-caller can succeed in head coach Kyle Shanahan's offense, making Jones the latest example.
Therein resides the proverbial pressure cooker for Purdy.
Brock Purdy will be under pressure to deliver upon his return from injury
Purdy's status for Week 4's tilt against the Jacksonville Jaguars remains up in the air, meaning it's possible Jones gets one more start.
Either way, Purdy has a benchmark to clear once he's retaken the role of starter.
Again, not to suggest there's a brewing quarterback controversy. But the talking heads who generate ratings by dishing out hot takes that make little sense will certainly run with any perceived struggles by Purdy upon his return.
And it might only take as little as one game in which the franchise quarterbacks performs poorly to convince those pundits to scream for Jones.
Even if it's wholly unjustified.
Thankfully, the prospects for a successful Purdy return are already lining up. Wide receiver Demarcus Robinson's three-game suspension for a 2024 DUI has concluded, meaning he returns to the roster shortly, and tight end George Kittle's stint on injured reserve because of a hamstring issue could clear up when he's scheduled to return as early as Week 6. Coincidentally, that's the same estimated week for wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk's return from last year's torn ACL and MCL.
Still, Purdy will remain under pressure once he's back on the field. A top-10 contract would have done that automatically, and now Jones' success over two games with a depleted offense only serves to put the former in a bigger spotlight.