In the Bay Area, things appear to be a bit clearer when it comes to the depth chart. The primary backup, if needed, is veteran Mac Jones, while Kurtis Rourke sits further down the pecking order, listed as the emergency quarterback.

For Dan Quinn, the situation changed following Marcus Mariota’s injury. Athan Kaliakmanis moved up to become Daniels’ primary backup, while Colson Yankoff, who typically plays tight end, could serve as the emergency quarterback if needed.

Purdy looks to maintain his MVP-caliber form

Brock Purdy has been absolute money to start the 2026 season, leading the undefeated 49ers to a 5-0 record while putting up major MVP-caliber numbers. Through five games, Purdy has been lethal through the air, throwing for 1,196 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and just 2 interceptions while completing 69% of his passes and sitting near the top of the league with an elite 119.3 passer rating.

Coming off a gritty divisional win over Seattle where he tossed another two scores, Purdy looks to keep that momentum rolling against a vulnerable Commanders defense. With the way he’s been dissecting secondary coverage, extending plays with his feet, and protecting the football, he’s poised to keep the Shanahan offense firing on all cylinders.

Daniels has taken Commanders’ offense to another level

Getting Jayden Daniels back on the field after his injury scare has instantly raised the ceiling for this Washington offense. Daniels didn’t look like he missed a beat in his return game against the Giants, dissecting the defense for 199 passing yards with a sharp 68% completion rate (17-of-25).

But the real game-changer was his elite dual-threat dynamic—he tore up the ground game with 103 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, including a electric 38-yard house call that completely shifted the energy on the sideline.

Bringing total dual-threat chaos, zero turnovers, and a pristine 91.9 passer rating to the table, Daniels proved that when he’s under center, this unit goes from predictable to nearly impossible to slow down.

Key takeaways

• Athan Kaliakmanis became Washington’s primary backup quarterback following an injury to Marcus Mariota.
• Brock Purdy led San Francisco to a 5-0 start with 1,196 passing yards.
• Jayden Daniels posted 199 passing yards and 103 rushing yards in his return.

Purdy is yet to receive a sack this season and that has obviously helped his case, but his prowess alone is also absolutely a reason for the 49ers being one of three unbeaten teams ahead of Week 5.

Now, both Purdy and Allen have a +300 line to become the 2026 NFL Most Valuable Player. Allen is, once again, playing hero ball to get the Bills wins, but Purdy might be playing the best football in his career.

Purdy’s stats throughout the first four weeks of the 2026 NFL season

Purdy has the best passer rating in the NFL with an otherworldly 126.3. Throughout this stretch, Purdy has passed for at least two or more touchdowns in all four of his games.

Purdy is currently riding a three-game streak with no turnovers as well. Pure and elite football level in all facets of the game. Josh Allen has to do so for his team to win, Purdy is just enjoying himself on the field and winning while he’s at it.

Purdy is defying the AFC QBs for MVP

Purdy is the only NFC quarterback in the top 6 favored to win MVP. That speaks volumes of what he is doing for the 49ers. After all, the AFC is known for their elite QBs. This is the top 6:

• Brock Purdy +300
• ⁠Josh Allen +300
• ⁠Patrick Mahomes +600
• ⁠Lamar Jackson +800
• ⁠Trevor Lawrence +1000
• ⁠Joe Burrow +1400

Key takeaways

• Brock Purdy holds +300 MVP odds, tying Josh Allen as co-favorite entering Week 5.
• Purdy leads the league with a 126.3 passer rating and zero sacks taken.
• Brock Purdy stands as the only NFC quarterback among the top six MVP betting candidates.

Purdy recently appeared on The Pat McAfee Show and shared his desire to create more opportunities with his legs moving forward. “I don’t know if I’ll be a Lamar Jackson out there by any means, but there’s always times on film where it’s like, I probably could use my feet there to pick up that 1st down and whatnot,” Purdy said.

“But I think that’s always within my training to make sure that I’m in shape and I am athletic enough to get out of the pocket, make plays off the scramble and whatnot.”

Purdy aims to exploit specific skill set

Purdy recognizes that maximizing his mobility is a key area he must exploit to rank among the league’s best, emphasizing gaining yards on his own and capitalizing on open spaces. The 49ers quarterback previously outlined his desire to scramble more during an interview with ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

“I’m never going to be a 4.4 guy, 4.5 guy,” Purdy said. “The thing I pride myself on is moving quickly, moving the chains when I need 10, 12 yards. I think I can add that for our offense, for sure. Not looking for that kind of stuff, but being able to fall back when those moments happen, like, ‘alright dude, I have the legs to do this, the mobility to do this, the athleticism.’…As I get older, I want to maintain that.”

Purdy addresses limited preseason reps

When asked on The Pat McAfee Show what he takes away from limited NFL preseason snaps, Purdy framed those reps strictly as mental and physical preparation rather than judging performance, expecting peak execution during the regular season when big results are expected from the 49ers.

“It’s obviously just getting ready for a game-the emotions, studying up on their defense, trying to have answers when you get out there,” Purdy said. “Going through your reads and trying to convert on third downs when you feel the pressure of the game. It’s a little different than practice.”

Per the Chargers’ website, Justin Herbert will start vs 49ers, confirmed by head coach Jim Harbaugh. “Starters are going to play a series then they’re going to come out. The backups will play the rest of the game,” Harbaugh said on Tuesday morning.

This will be the second straight year that Herbert makes an appearance in the preseason for the Chargers. Herbert was a 2020 rookie, but there was no preseason that year due to COVID-19. Then, he sat from 2021 to 2023, and missed the 2024 preseason with a plantar fascia injury.

Will Brock Purdy play for 49ers vs Chargers?

After joint practice against the Chargers, 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that a chunk of first stringers will play during their Week 2 preseason game. That includes quarterback Brock Purdy, who will get snaps vs. Chargers.

Per Savanah Tujague of Yahoo! Sports, Purdy should see “anywhere from one to two series to direct the huddle and test his timing in game conditions.” While players like Christian McCaffrey, Mike Evans, and Christian Kirk are still sidelined, it’s expected that Deebo Samuel and other starters join Purdy in the cameo.

Purdy and Herbert had very different joint practices

Purdy got picked and the offense was having lots of issues during the 49ers joint practice with the Chargers. From turnovers to miscommunications, it wasn’t great for the signal-caller.

Meanwhile, Justin Herbert torched the 49ers defense left, right, up, and down the field. It seems like the Chargers offense was firing at all cylinders, while the 49ers attacking force was to gears behind.

Per Vic Tafur of The Athletic, Brock Purdy won’t be playing for the 49ers vs Titans. Given how injury prone the 49ers have been lately, it’s not shocking that the team is opting to rest their franchise quaterback. There were also questions on if Cam Ward will play vs 49ers.

Mac Jones, Kurtis Rourke and Adrian Martinez are the team’s available quarterbacks against Tennessee. Given that Jones is clearly the backup, it wouldn’t be shocking that Rourke and Martinez get the most snaps in this game.

Purdy’s preseason numbers have been declining

Usually, when numbers decline, those are red flags. However, when it’s on preseason, it means you’re more relevant to the team, hence you see less snaps. Given that Purdy was Mr. Irrelevant at first and is now the 49ers franchise QB, his snaps in preseason ended up getting smaller and smaller.

Will Shanahan be on the sidelines vs Titans?

Reports of The New York Times state that Kyle Shanahan will be on the sidelines despite him being still on the recovery end of a car crash a few weeks ago. While the starters won’t play, the head coach will be there.

Earlier this week, the 49ers also re-signed Deebo Samuel, updating their wide receiver depth chart. However, they had already secured a top-tier wideout in Evans, a player Purdy is thrilled to work alongside.

“Mike is a different breed when it comes to playing X-receiver,” Purdy told NFL Network. “Having all the abilities and gadgets to run quick routes, medium routes, and then go deep. And honestly, when it looks like he’s covered, still giving him a chance and having him go up and get it—I’ve never really had that in my career.“

Mike Evans lands in an ideal offensive scheme

In head coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers possess one of the finest offensive minds in the NFL. Shanahan has guided Brock Purdy into an elite distributor, even while navigating persistent injuries across the skill positions over recent seasons.

Now, the Niners made the deliberate decision to provide Purdy with a physical, dominant boundary receiver in Evans. While the veteran dealt with an injury-disrupted 2025 campaign, he enters an ideal environment in San Francisco to showcase that he remains a upper-tier playmaker.

A six-time Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion, Evans brings immediate game-changing utility to Purdy’s offense. Paired with fellow veteran Deebo Samuel, the 49ers’ intention is clear: give their quarterback two reliable, experienced sets of hands to elevate his execution and maintain command over the NFC West.

Speaking on The Krueg Show with Larry Krueger, Smith provided a detailed breakdown of why Purdy gives the 49ers their best shot at a championship. “Yeah, I think he’s got a great chance. This is a guy that I think will always give you a chance to be in contention,” Smith stated.

Smith is confident that Purdy can navigate the team through any rough stretches, especially within an NFC West division where the Los Angeles Rams consistently loom as the primary threat. On top of that, the addition of veteran wide receiver Mike Evans provides an elite perimeter weapon to elevate the entire offensive unit.

Smith believes we haven’t seen the best of Purdy yet

Though Purdy dealt with an injury-shortened stretch last year, he still guided the 49ers to a strong 7-2-0 run during his starts, demonstrating high-level efficiency. “I still think Brock’s best days are ahead, and I think he has the skillset to play high-level football for a long time,” Smith noted.

Smith also pushed back against the common criticisms that often dog Purdy, highlighting how his anticipation makes him unique for the position and a perfect match for Shanahan’s scheme. “This is the guy that battles the ‘game manager’ thing. Like he’s just a product of the system. It just couldn’t be further from the truth.”

Heading into the upcoming 2026 NFL season, Purdy will not only be fully healthy but will also have stability in the quarterback room with Mac Jones returning as the backup. With a locked-in roster, San Francisco is well-positioned to secure another postseason berth without having to endure a grueling divisional dogfight.

It is no secret that San Francisco has notoriously struggled with the injury bug in recent years. While veteran fullback Kyle Juszczyk and others have previously downplayed structural or substitution theories regarding the team’s health woes, the lingering question remains whether the roster can finally stay healthy in 2026.

For Purdy, availability is the top priority right now—especially with a heavily revamped wide receiver room. The quarterback is thrilled about the raw talent surrounding him but suggested that staying on the field during the offseason is the only way for the unit to familiarize themselves with the system and unlock their full potential.

“Our receiving corps as a whole, we’re really excited about right now,” Brock Purdy said during the Dwight Clark Legacy Series in an interview with Laura Britt. “Everyone’s healthy and good. We got to keep it going and just keep stacking days and I think we have a really good corps as a whole.”

If the 49ers stay healthy, the NFC should be cautious

Under the leadership of head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch, the 49ers have consistently proven to be a dominant force in the NFC. Unfortunately, poorly timed injuries have routinely prevented the team from being as explosive and fierce as they are on paper.

San Francisco has unfairly earned a reputation as a team snakebit by medical bad luck. Nevertheless, the front office has diligently adjusted training and conditioning programs throughout the offseason to mitigate health issues and sustain a durable group through the grueling winter months.

Even with a depleted roster in 2025, the 49ers managed to fight their way into the postseason. If they can keep their core intact this year, many believe they have the firepower to reclaim the NFC West title—even with the rival Seattle Seahawks currently reigning as the Super Bowl LX champions.

A reloaded offense around Brock Purdy

With Brandon Aiyuk effectively out the door in San Francisco, the front office aggressively pivoted to secure future Hall of Famer Mike Evans as his premier replacement. The elite veteran has dealt with minor injuries of his own recently, but when healthy, he remains one of the most dominant boundary targets in the league.

A star-studded arsenal featuring Evans, Christian McCaffrey, a healthy Ricky Pearsall, veteran slot-weapon Christian Kirk, and tight end George Kittle provides Purdy with an embarrassment of riches. On paper, this collection of talent easily stands out as one of the most terrifying offensive units in the entire NFL.

On Wednesday, the 49ers and Jones agreed to terms on a revised deal that adds a $300,000 roster bonus, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. Jones is now set to earn $3.55 million in total compensation this year, with an additional $2.25 million available through performance-based incentives.

With this move, the Niners lock in critical continuity behind center. While trade rumors swirled earlier this offseason, San Francisco’s steep asking price kept interested suitors at bay, and ultimately Kyle Shanahan secured Mac Jones’ continuity as he wanted.

Brock Purdy is No. 1, but Mac Jones is ready

While Brock Purdy remains the undisputed QB1 in San Francisco, Jones proved last season that he can keep the offense afloat at a moment’s notice. Filling in during Purdy’s battle with a turf toe injury, Jones stepped up to start eight of the 11 games he appeared in, guiding the team to a solid 5–3 record in relief.

Jones put together a highly efficient 2025 campaign, showcasing clear growth under Kyle Shanahan’s system:

• Completion Percentage: 69.6% (a career high)
• Passing Production: 2,151 yards
• Touchdown-to-Interception Ratio: 13 TDs to 6 INTs
• Passer Rating: 97.4

The road ahead: Free agency in 2027

Once the 2026 season concludes, Jones is scheduled to hit the open market as an unrestricted free agent. Multiple quarterback-needy teams monitored his status this spring, viewing the 27-year-old as a high-upside veteran capable of earning a second chance at a starting role.

While a desperate team could theoretically still approach the 49ers with a massive trade package before the deadline, all signs point to Jones staying put for 2026. By serving as elite insurance for a Super Bowl contender, Jones has a prime opportunity to further rebuild his stock before entering a lucrative free-agency market in 2027.

Speaking to NBCSports Bay Area, Purdy said, “Obviously, we have what it takes to go all the way and win it, that’s when we’re at full strength and good to go. But even though we are at full strength and full health, that’s not guaranteed. That’s the cool thing about the guys we have in the locker room and organization: No one just sits there and says, ‘Oh, look at our roster and how beautiful it looks.’”

The 49ers have dealt with injury-plagued after injury-plagued season. Hence, the expectations around them have dimmed. But for Purdy, the team is still there, knocking on the door of a Super Bowl victory.

The 49ers have brought key pieces to win it all

The 49ers feel like they are just a few pieces away, so while they didn’t bring a lot of names, they did bring impact players to fill the holes on the roster. For instance, Jauan Jennings left the team and Brandon Aiyuk might do the same, but they brought in a massive upgrade in WR Mike Evans, and a veteran presence in Christian Kirk.

The 49ers also traded for defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. Free agency saw them sign defensive end Cam Sample, and cornerback Jack Jones. Those names will bolster the defense and give depth to the squad.

Brock Purdy and Mike Evans could be a problem

While some people are still not fond of giving Brock Purdy a good rating, numbers speak for themselves. Purdy is a winner, and while not an elite quarterback, he is excellent. Now he has a Super Bowl winner and future Hall of Famer in Mike Evans, and things could propel to the sky.

Evans is a certified threat, especially in the red zone. Purdy is very accurate. And, to make it better, defenses will still have to deal or worry about players like tight end George Kittle, running back Christian McCaffrey, and a certain Kyle Shanahan calling the plays.

“I don’t know what it is, what it’s going to take for this guy to finally get the respect that I think he truly deserves,” Juszczyk said during an appearance on The Jim Rome Show.

“Season in, season out, he plays tremendously and I don’t know what it is. I don’t know if it’s just the fact that he’s not a first-round draft pick, if that is just going to be the story for his entire career and be kind of held against him. Maybe. I love the guy, as a person, as my quarterback, as a football player. He is the dude.”

Purdy has earned his place in the NFL

Despite being the final pick of the 2022 NFL Draft (262nd overall), a position famously known as Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy has defied all odds by becoming a franchise quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. In just his second season, he led the team to Super Bowl LVIII following a stellar 2023 campaign where he threw for 4,280 yards, 31 touchdowns, and maintained a league-leading 113.0 passer rating.

During that postseason run, Purdy proved his composure by completing 66 passes for 774 yards and 3 touchdowns over three games, cementing his transition from an overlooked prospect to an elite NFL starter.

49ers put their trust in the contract

In May 2025, the San Francisco 49ers solidified their future by signing Purdy to a massive 5-year, $265 million contract extension, officially cementing his status as the team’s franchise quarterback. This landmark deal includes approximately $181 million in total guarantees and an average annual salary of $53 million, propelling him from one of the league’s lowest-paid players to one of the highest-earning signal-callers in the NFL.

By including a no-trade clause in the agreement, the Bay Area front office signaled their absolute commitment to Purdy, prioritizing his long-term stay as the centerpiece of the organization through the 2030 season.