Fowler: Purdy ‘prepared to use his mobility more’

Jones, who could have started elsewhere this season if the Niners had found a trading partner, will now make $3.55 million in 2026, with another $2.25 million available in incentives. Jones will be a free agent after the 2026 season. The Niners reportedly wanted a first-round draft pick in exchange for Jones. The veteran threw for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions last season over eight games as the Niners’ starter. Jones in 2025 was tenth in EPA per drop back, just behind Sam Darnold and Patrick Mahomes.

The Kyler Murray experiment should be well underway by late November as Kevin O’Connell and the Vikings look to recover from their failed dalliance with J.J. McCarthy as the team’s starting quarterback. Murray will lead a quietly loaded Minnesota offense against Kyle Shanahan’s EPA-maximizing Niners offense. The last time Brock Purdy faced the Vikings defense he threw for 319 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in a Week 2 2024 loss. Purdy took a season-high six sacks in that game.

Boston has a good chance of being on the draft board when the 49ers make their first round selection at No. 27 overall. Boston in his final collegiate season at Washington had 62 receptions for 881 receiving yards (14.2 yards per catch) and was tied for ninth in the FBS with 11 receiving touchdowns. Boston ranks 42nd in yards per route run among wideouts in the 2026 draft class. The big-bodied Boston would pair well with veteran Mike Evans, who signed with the Niners during free agency. With Evans, Boston, and George Kittle, Brock Purdy would have a range of excellent red zone options in 2026.

Jones is signed through the 2026 season but could see significant interest from quarterback-needy teams this spring. Howe said “with that talented roster and coach Kyle Shanahan, the Niners don’t want a season to go to waste if Purdy goes down again. Since Jones was a major reason the Niners stayed afloat in 2025, they could rightfully be stubborn and hold out for a first-round offer.” This, along with a recent report that the market for Jones is not expected to be “robust,” suggests the veteran will remain in San Francisco for at least one more season. Jones in 2025 was fifth among all QBs in drop back success rate. Purdy, meanwhile, led the NFL in success rate.

Brock Purdy and the Niners will be well traveled in 2026. They will play against the Rams in the first-ever NFL game in Australia along with the Mexico City outing. The 49ers will also fly across country twice in 2026 to face the Giants and Falcons, according to ESPN’s Field Yates. It would seem to be a demanding travel schedule for a team contending for a championship.

This will be the first time that an NFL game has been played in Australia. The NFL announced last year that the league had signed a multi-year commitment to host regular season games in Melbourne, as it expands the international market. The game will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which boasts a listed seating capacity of 100,024.

He was replaced late by Mac Jones with the score completely out of hand. Purdy’s touchdown rate rebounded from his weird 2024 season, but he turned it over more than ever – mostly on account of playing injured through a painful turf toe – with 10 picks in just 284 attempts. Purdy did drastically cut his sack rate and looked to take a step forward once he finally returned to the lineup in Week 11. He showed some downright Mahomesian highlights against the Bears and continued to look like he could create more out of broken plays than he did as a younger passer. Purdy averaged 24.6 fantasy points per game in nine games – more than any quarterback with at least five starts except for Josh Allen and Matthew Stafford. You’re going to think of him as a low-end QB1 in 2026 – he might actually be a mid-range QB1.

Battling the wind and an elite defense, Purdy had his first multi-pick start since before Thanksgiving, but the 49ers still managed to spring the upset thanks to surprisingly feisty defense and some well-timed big plays on offense. That included a third passing score via former college quarterback recruit Jauan Jennings on a fourth quarter trick play. Both of Purdy’s giveaways were bad decisions in the vicinity of DB Quinyon Mitchell, but he rode hot connections with Christian McCaffrey and DeMarcus Robinson to keep the Niners in the game. Another massive test now awaits for the Divisional Round, as the Niners must venture back to Seattle for Part 3 of their Seahawks trilogy, this time without George Kittle (Achilles). It can be done, but will take a much better performance than Purdy delivered in Philly.

Purdy got crushed by multiple Seattle defenders on his final play of the 49ers’ Week 18 loss to the Seahawks. He stayed on the field for a while before heading into the blue medical tent. Kyle Shanahan called the injury a stinger in his left shoulder after the game. He also told reports Purdy could have returned to the contest. He will likely be dealing with some pain in the Wild Card Round, but Purdy will be out there.

Purdy only managed one real drive of any consequence. Leading off the fourth quarter, Purdy had the 49ers in goal-to-go only to watch a double-tipped (by the defensive lineman and Christian McCaffrey) pass land in Drake Thomas’ arms. The 49ers missed Trent Williams, but this was also a case of Kyle Shanahan getting schematically pantsed by Mike MacDonald. Purdy had just 77 yards before that fourth-quarter drive, and was left with a bloodied throwing thumb while taking some huge hits on San Francisco’s final drive. The 49ers will be either the No. 5 seed in the NFC if the Rams lose to Arizona on Sunday or, more likely, the No. 6 seed if the Rams win. Purdy took a huge hit on the final play and looked shaken up, but Shanahan said he could have gone back in, meaning he will be good to go for the Wild Card Round.