The San Francisco 49ers are preparing to start quarterback Mac Jones for their upcoming game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. This would be Jones’ fourth start in the first six games of the season. His participation comes with a lot of unknowns. Jones has been dealing with recurring tendinitis in his left knee and oblique.
Jones was a limited participant in practice all week, leaving his availability for the game in doubt. Though he’s listed as questionable for Sunday, he was at least able to get in some limited throwing drills on Friday. Most telling, he did no hard throwing during Thursday’s session, a signal he could be intentionally limited to avoid all but risk of injury for aggravating his own.
Following a preseason injury against the Las Vegas Raiders, Jones aggravated his left knee during Week 3 against the Arizona Cardinals. His oblique strain came on the last offensive play vs the Los Angeles Rams, making the recovery process even more tricky for him.
Even with such things, Jones remained optimistic about his odds of being back in time to face the Buccaneers. He noted, “I believe if you can protect yourself, that you should be out there and playing,” emphasizing his determination to contribute to the team’s efforts.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan was soon to confirm that Jones would indeed be making his first career start against Tampa Bay. He stated, “Pretty much already have [said he will play],” reinforcing his belief in Jones’ readiness for the game. Shanahan remains aware of the situation’s fluidity, mentioning that it is crucial to assess Jones’ condition as the week progresses.
It will be a daunting challenge for Jones to overcome without such support. Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall will sit for the second week in a row with a right knee injury. It will force Jones to rely on a patchwork crew of pass catchers. This lack of depth could lead to some interesting obstacles for the 49ers’ offensive gameplan.
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