Mac Jones had a strong run as the starting quarterback for the 49ers while Brock Purdy was injured last season, but there was no chance to cash in on that as a free agent this offseason.
Jones signed a two-year deal with the Niners as a free agent last year, which meant that a trade would be the only way for him to land a permanent starting position for the 2026 season. The 49ers expressed no interest in going that route from the first day of the offseason and Jones had to settle for a slight pay bump as part of a contract adjustment last month.
Some might see that as a missed opportunity, but Jones said on Thursday that he’d be on the street “if I was on a one-year deal and played like crap” so he’s got no regrets about his decision.
“Yeah, the one-year versus two-year thing is definitely a legit question, but it’ll all work out how it’s supposed to. . . . Whenever I’m needed, that’s my job, is to support Brock,” Jones said, via 49ersWebzone.com. “It’s his team, and he played very well towards the end of the year, and I feel like it was just a lot of fun. We want to continue that — the good vibes in there — and I’m looking forward to trying not to focus on the future, just focus on now.”
Last year’s toe issue was not Purdy’s first serious injury, so Jones could have another chance to impress the rest of the league this season. If not, he’ll have to hope memories are long enough to put him into consideration for starting jobs in 2027.
In 2024, 49ers receiver Mike Evans set a record in Tampa by becoming the first player with 11 straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons to start a career. That also tied the all-time record for consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons, with Jerry Rice.
Injuries kept Evans from breaking the record in his twelfth and final season with the Buccaneers.
“Oh, it was super disappointing,” Evans told reporters on Thursday, via JoeBucsFan.com. “I’m extremely competitive and for me to not break that record, I thought I was going to be able to break it easy — how hungry I was going into that season.”
Injuries limited him to eight games in 2025 and 382 receiving yards. He could, in theory, still catch or pass Rice’s all-time record of 14 career 1,000-yard seasons.
“You know, in life, some things, it’s not going to go your way,” Evans said. “But I look at that injury as a blessing in disguise, because I’m feeling really fresh, feeling rejuvenated. I’m in a new spot, new change like I felt I needed. And I’m looking forward to get back.”
A first-round pick in 2014, Evans turns 33 in August. The question moving forward will be whether he can continue to perform at a high level, and ultimately for how long.
The Rams’ trade for Myles Garrett on Monday made the reigning Defensive Player of the Year the NFC West’s problem.
While the other three teams in the AFC North were celebrating, the 49ers, Cardinals and Seahawks were already watching film on the Rams’ new edge rusher.
49ers left tackle Trent Williams was asked about Garrett joining the Rams and summed things up for the rest of the entire division.
“It sucks,” Williams said to laughter, via video from the team.
In the 49ers’ 26-8 win over the Browns last season, Garrett had a sack and three quarterback hits. He did not have a sack and only one quarterback hit in the Browns’ 19-17 victory over the 49ers in 2023.
Garrett, 30, set the NFL single-season sacks record last season with 23 and has 125.5 for his career.
George Kittle’s goal from the moment he tore his Achilles was to get back for the season opener. He said Wednesday that he remains on track to get back for Week 1.
“My Achilles is doing great, no setbacks in my recovery,” Kittle said, via David Bonilla of 49erswebzone.com. “Checking all the boxes, doing everything I’m supposed to do. My surgeon’s super happy. My physical therapist in L.A., who works with him, is super happy. Niners are happy. I’m happy.”
Kittle tore his right Achilles during a Jan. 11 playoff game against the Eagles. That gave him only eight months for surgery and rehab, prompting an initial fear that Kittle would miss some of the 2026 season.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery on Kittle’s Achilles in Los Angeles the week of the injury, and he told Kittle immediately afterward that Kittle had “a chance” to make it back for Week 1.
“I mean, it definitely ignites something and makes you push for it,” Kittle said. “So, we’re on track; we’re ahead of schedule.”
The long round trip to and from Melbourne, Australia, for the first game complicates Kittle’s timeline, but he calls it “just another challenge.”
Kittle made a seventh career Pro Bowl last season despite playing only 11 regular-season games due to hamstring and ankle injuries.
49ers General Manager John Lynch announced in February that the team had hired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. On Wednesday, the 49ers announced Adofo-Mensah’s title.
He will serve as vice president, personnel and strategy.
The Vikings fired Adofo-Mensah in January after four seasons with the team.
The 49ers also announced nine executives have earned promotions to new roles within the organization.
- Nathan Biehl - Area Scout
- Grant Bordelon - Football Systems and Personnel Operations Specialist
- Ryan Carter - NFS Scout
- Brad Clark - Senior Director, Football Technology & Video Systems
- Casey Filkins - Player Personnel Scout
- Jordan Fox - Pro Scout
- Michael Gonzalez - Head of General Manager Operations
- Austin Moss II - Vice President, Player Development & Team Dynamics
- Jeff Weidemeyer - Senior Manager, Football Administration & Roster Management
