Mac Jones was accomplished. Even coach 49ers’ coach Kyle Shanahan thought so.
He was clearly struggling within the second half of a 26-23 additional time street victory in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams Thursday night time to the purpose the place it appeared he must depart the sport.
Jones had taken a blow on his left knee, already protected by a brace. A calf was tightening up. Then his proper arm started to cramp and he began to get sick on the sideline. Jones ate three bananas making an attempt to regain some energy and potassium and drank pickle juice.
An IV was beneficial however there have been solely seven minutes remaining.
“I was told he was cramping too hard and Adrian (Martinez) was going in,” Shanahan mentioned Friday throughout a convention name with native media. “And then I looked up and Mac was in the huddle, so he just sprinted out therer and kept it going. I was like, `all right, let’s see how long this lasts.’ And it lasted the whole game.”
With Purdy experiencing a setback along with his toe after going wire-to-wire in opposition to Jacksonville, Jones would be the seemingly starter when the 49ers resume play. Shanahan mentioned Thursday night time he was unaware of stories that had him out from two to 5 weeks, saying solely it was week to week.
Behind Jones, the 49ers improved to 4-1 and are atop the NFC West, and thus the 74th common season win in Shanahan’s 9 years was additionally probably the most satisfying contemplating all the pieces that went into it.
“It’s the fifth game of the season, and as far as the ramifications of that stuff, you never know how that plays out,” Shanahan mentioned. “But it was unusually exhausting, just the competitive stamina you needed for that game — for a player, a coach, a fan, everyone. It was 84 (actually 86) plays, and every one seemed like it mattered . . . it all added up and that made it one of the more special ones that you’ll remember for a long time.”
With three days off, the 49ers are getting the closest factor they’ll should their precise bye in Week 14, and so they want it.
And it seems like tight finish George Kittle, eligible to come back off injured reserve this week with a hamstring pressure, received’t be again for the 49ers’ Oct. 12 street sport at Tampa Bay.
“He’s doing good, but I think it would be a long shot for him this week, just talking to the docs a second ago,” Shanahan mentioned.
Extra seemingly, Shanahan mentioned, Kittle returns on Oct. 19 when the 49ers host the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium.
Defensive sort out Kalia Davis broke his hand and can have surgical procedure, just like what occurred to C.J. West. He might or will not be out there enjoying with a solid in opposition to the Bucs. Cornerback Upton Stout got here out with an ankle damage — though not the dreaded excessive ankle sprain — and can be evaluated in the course of the week of apply.
Defensive finish Yetur Gross-Matos seems to be sidelined once more, this time with a hamstring pressure that Shanahan mentioned “will take some time.” Defensive sort out Alfred Collins, who compelled a Kyren Williams objective line fumble that was an enormous play within the sport, got here out of the sport with a sprained knee and can be evaluated when apply resumes Monday.
Tonges to the rescue
Lacking Kittle for an additional week would appear like an even bigger deal if it wasn’t for Jake Tonges, who has turn out to be a revelation as a little-known substitute from Cal and Los Gatos Excessive.
Tonges caught seven passes for 41 yards and has three touchdowns this season. It began with a game-winning landing reception from Brock Purdy within the opener, one he stole from Seattle defender Tariq Woolen.
“To make that unbelievable catch in the first game and how he’s been every week since, I just know I get a lot more confidence knowing plays that I can call for him,” Shanahan mentioned. “His hands have been awesome and he’s really good in the run game too.”
Tight finish Jake Tonges will get a carry from teammates after scoring on a 6-yard landing go from Mac Jones in opposition to the Rams Thursday night time. A.P. Picture
On the lookout for operating room
The 49ers ended up averaging simply 2.2 yards per carry with 74 yards on 33 makes an attempt. And whereas ahead progress has been a pressure, the quantity of carries was essential to maintain the Rams trustworthy. Christian McCaffrey completed with 57 yards on 22 carries and had 9 carries for 12 yards after halftime.
“You’re struggling to run the ball, but still knowing that you needed to try to control their defensive line a little bit,” Shanahan mentioned.
Left sort out Trent Williams mentioned the speeding makes an attempt have been helpful if not explosive.
“We had (407) yards of offense. So you know we didn’t abandon it,” Williams mentioned. “We stuck to it. Kept handing it off and made them respect it. It opens up everything in back. You’ve got Christian McCaffrey, they’re going to sell out to stop him. They’re not going to let him eat them.”
Shanahan was happy with the play of the offensive line, noting Jones was sacked solely as soon as.
“I expected there to be a lot more pressure on the quarterback than there was,” Shanahan mentioned.
Interceptions, speeding TDs, who wants ’em?
The 49ers have now performed a dozen video games and seen 381 go makes an attempt with out recording an interceptions.
The 49ers are 5 video games into the season and nonetheless don’t have a speeding landing.
In accordance with Related Press statistical savant Josh Dubow, the 49ers are the primary staff since at the very least 1940 to have zero interceptions and nil landing runs by 5 video games — no matter document.
SNAP JUDGEMENTS
A take a look at who performed and the way a lot in opposition to the Rams:
86–That’s a whole lot of snaps in an NFL sport, and 6 offensive starters have been there for each one in all them. Jones and the complete offensive line — left guard Connor Colby, Williams, middle Jake Brendel, proper guard Dominick Puni and proper sort out Colton McKivitz.
76–McCaffrey was off the sector for simply 10 snaps. Brian Robinson performed 12, and for the primary time was within the sport concurrently McCaffrey.
68–The 49ers time of possession benefit (40:04 to 26:20) stored the protection off the sector for lengthy stretches. Linebackers Fred Warner and Dee Winters, safeties Marques Sigle and Jason Pinnock and cornerbacks Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Inexperienced by no means left the sector. Inexperienced missed the Jacksonville sport with neck damage.
63–Thought of 50-50 to make the 53-man roster, Tonges has been a godsend within the absence of Kittle. He had seven receptions for 41 yards with a profession excessive in snaps and has 19 receptions and three receptions this season.
38– Stout was thought-about an essential piece in coping with Puka Nacua within the slot. He was off the sector for 30 snaps and has an ankle damage, however nonetheless had eight tackles.
36–Fullback Kyle Juszczyk had his most snaps since 37 in Week 1. He caught three passes for 21 yards and was stuffed on the objective line for a yard loss on his solely carry.
28–Rookie defensive sort out C.J. West was out there along with his surgically repaired thumb closely wrapped though he didn’t present up on the stat sheet.
8–Observe squad promotion Trevis Gipson had a fumble restoration in his 49ers’ debut.
