On Thursday night, the San Francisco 49ers had their first preseason game of 2026. They hardly showed their hand during the contest, as the vast majority of starters did not play.
Though the Brock Purdys of the world didn't set foot on the field, the 49ers still learned a valuable lesson that may clarify a tricky situation regarding their backup quarterback, Mac Jones.
Jones also didn't see a snap, which may not have been expected, but wasn't all too surprising. The third-string QB, Kurtis Rourke, started—and played well. He finished 12 of 14 for 101 yards and had a couple of nice runs escaping the pocket. However, he left the game after injuring his ribs, reminding the Niners of how valuable Mac Jones truly is.
49ers no longer have leverage in a Mac Jones deal, nor can they afford it
Throughout the offseason, it was rumored that San Francisco was shopping Jones around to interested teams. With Purdy healthy, Jones felt like a gratuitous piece to the offense, one that may not be needed at all during the season. Jones stepped in sans Purdy in 2025 and played well, all but reviving what was thought to be a disappointing career.
Now, the idea feels like a pipe dream. It was dependent on third-string Kurtis Rourke proving he could serve as a competent backup, and, while he displayed clear talent, the Indiana product couldn't even breathe comfortably after the game.
Therefore, the 49ers are back to square one, and Jones appears to be more essential than ever. They should know as well as anybody what a shallow QB room can do to a team. In a time when quarterbacks are the driving force of the league, Jones serves as one of an essential insurance policies.
It's not like Purdy has never missed time before, either. In his three full seasons as the team's starting quarterback, the gunslinger has missed 11 games. To think he might miss another game or two this season is not unreasonable. Given how many injuries the organization has already suffered since the start of training camp, retaining talent at the game's most valuable position is a must.
Jones represents something the 49ers don't have much of elsewhere: depth. They are already thin at both wide receiver and running back due to mounting ailments, and they cannot afford to shed what little depth they have elsewhere. Therefore, it took just one preseason game for Mac Jones to remind the red and gold how indispensable he is.
And he didn't even step foot on the field.
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