NFL analyst pours cold water on hopes 49ers will be just fine with Mac Jones

Already, the San Francisco 49ers' 2025 campaign is bringing back shades of 2024 (or 2020, if one wants to relive that pain) with regard to the injury front.

Two of the most notable setbacks are All-Pro tight end George Kittle and quarterback Brock Purdy, who suffered hamstring and toe injuries, respectively, in the Niners' Week 1 road victory over the Seattle Seahawks.

With Kittle on injured reserve and Purdy out from between two to five weeks, San Francisco's already-shorthanded offense is in a dire situation.

One head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch hope the offseason free-agent pickup, quarterback Mac Jones, can successfully navigate on the interim.

"We're really pleased to have Mac here," Lynch told KNBR 680 the Thursday before the 49ers' Week 2 road bout against the New Orleans Saints. "Mac was a guy, back in the draft process, we studied a lot, really liked. He has had his ups and downs in his NFL career, but since he's been a part of us, really has taken to our offense, really fits our culture. He can run our offense, and run it well, and we don't have to change a whole lot when he's out there."

Indeed, there are valid reasons why Jones could be just fine filling in for Purdy, especially going up against a dilapidated NOLA squad that isn't exactly poised to threaten for the playoffs.

However, one prominent NFL ESPN analyst isn't buying into the idea Jones can fill the void.

ESPN's MIna Kimes casts doubt on whether Mac Jones can help 49ers

Speaking on The Rich Eisen Show, ESPN's Mina Kimes wasn't overly enthusiastic to see Jones taking starting snaps in place of Purdy.

"I question whether or not the situation around Mac Jones is good enough to enable this offense to keep rolling," Kines admitted. "Kittle is out. Watching the Week 1 offense against Seattle, the offensive line, to me, had a lot of problems. Brock Purdy was under pressure a lot."

Now, one could draw some comparisons to the Hawks defense under head coach Mike Macdonald and contrast it against New Orleans' defense under a familiar face to Niners fans, coordinator Brandon Staley.

Still, despite admitting that, too, Kimes is worried about Jones proverbially "holding the fort."

"This is not a great situation that he's is stepping into," Kimes concluded. "So, I'm pretty skeptical of this Niners offense with him."

As cliche as it sounds, this is a classic case of "we'll see" with regard to how well (or poorly) Jones handles the newfound opportunity given to him.