Brock Purdy Ruled Out For Week 8; Mac Jones To Start

The 49ers will go another week without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who’s continuing to deal with a toe injury. While Purdy was a limited participant in practice this week, the team has ruled him out for Sunday’s game in Houston. Backup Mac Jones will start again in Purdy’s place.

This will be the fourth missed game in a row for Purdy, who has sat out all but two contests this year. He started a Week 1 win over the Seahawks and a Week 4 loss to the Jaguars. Otherwise, the 49ers have turned to Jones, an offseason free agent acquisition who divided his first four years between New England and Jacksonville.

Jones signed a two-year, $7MM deal with the 49ers after reportedly spurning richer offers on the open market. The deal has worked out swimmingly for both sides in 2025.

Jones’ stock has likely risen as the former first-round pick has helped keep the injury-plagued 49ers firmly in the NFC playoff mix. The team is 5-2 and atop the NFC West, leading fellow five-win clubs in the Rams and Seahawks, and currently the second seed in the conference.

The 49ers have gone 4-1 under Jones, who has experienced his most success since helping the Patriots to a 10-7 mark and a playoff berth as a rookie in 2021. The 27-year-old has completed 67% of passes for 1,404 yards, six touchdowns, and four interceptions. Jones has been playing through knee and oblique injuries, but he was a full participant in practice this week.

Although the Texans are off to a dismal 2-4 start, their defense should pose a significant challenge for Jones and the 49ers’ offense. Houston has given up a meager 14.7 points per game, which ranks first in the NFL. The Texans’ stop unit is also fourth in yards allowed and fifth against the pass.