Few, if anyone, could have imagined the San Francisco 49ers getting this much success from quarterback Mac Jones, their high-profile offseason free-agent pickup who was brought in solely to serve as Brock Purdy's backup.
Instead, Jones' career reclamation project has become a league-wide storyline, particularly after he led a banged-up sans-Purdy Niners squad to a 26-23 overtime win over the Los Angeles Rams in Week 5 on Thursday Night Football.
With Purdy having missed three games because of turf toe, Jones has done more than just hold the line. Over the latter's three starts, the 2021 first-round draftee completed two-thirds of his 129 pass attempts for six touchdowns against one interception, all for a passer rating of 99.