You’re Brock Purdy and the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Fans and media (social and mainstream) alike are aghast at three interceptions in a 20-9 win over the Carolina Panthers in a game where the 49ers carried Purdy, rather than the other way around.
Rather than look at the pressure that comes with football’s most important position as oppressive, Purdy channeled his more playful side in Sunday’s 26-8 win over the Cleveland Browns.
He broke out “The Dougie,” a hip-hop dance move, after a 2-yard touchdown run. It’s not as if Purdy isn’t fiery at times, even pantomiming shooting ice water into his veins on occasion after a big touchdown pass. But something was missing after agreeing to a contract extension worth a maximum of $265 million and then being sidelined for eight games with turf toe.
The solution was present every day in position group meetings that included backup quarterback Mac Jones.
“It’s been good for me to have a guy that you can see play quarterback and have fun with it,” Purdy said Tuesday on KNBR-680. “You know me. I’m so serious about my job and everything, which is great. But it’s cool to see him have fun with it and learn from him in that regard.”
Purdy’s celebratory moves predated Jones’ arrival on a two-year contract which could pay him $8.4 million. But the two have been compatible, if contrasting, studies in personality from the start.
Jones dresses in stylish and flamboyant suits on game day and has a goofy laugh both in locker room and press settings. Purdy is more casual and understated both in manner of dress and outward enthusiasm. Jones was a first-round draft pick who faded after a strong rookie year and rebuilt his career with the 49ers as a backup. Purdy was the last pick of the draft but shone as a rookie after injuries felled both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo.
Purdy counts mobility as a strength, and it was on full display against Cleveland. Jones can get a yard or two now and then but is primarily a stand-and-deliver quarterback.
Yet both are on the same wavelength as head coach and play designer Kyle Shanahan. Considering the importance of the position, it’s not an overstatement to suggest Jones saved their season with five wins in eight starts.
“He’s the man,” Purdy said. “We’ve gotten close throughout the year and I think both of us just have the other’s back. At the quarterback, people want to make storylines and all these things about the next guy and this and that.
“To have both of us understand the position and the highs and lows that come with it, it’s been pretty cool. He’s been through what I’m going through — an injury, trying to lead a team and all that. More than anything, he went out there and kept our team alive, making plays and straight up balling out.”
Jones has completed a career-best 69.6 percent of his passes (201-for-289) for 2,151 yards, 14 touchdowns and six interceptions. His Week 3 performance against the Rams in a 26-23 overtime win (33-for-39, 319 yards, three touchdowns) might be the best we see from a 49ers quarterback this season.
Aside from the way he handles himself, Purdy also took note of Jones’ penchant for moving on to the next play when necessary to stay out of negative yardage situations and keep the offense humming.
“I definitely learn from him in terms of being efficient, taking what the defense gives you, trying to stay on the field, find ways to get points whether it’s good-looking or not and kicking a field goal after a checkdown,” Purdy said. “That’s playing NFL quarterback and what I learned from him. Hopefully we can continue to push each other and help each other as we go down the stretch here. But I’m extremely thankful for that guy, that’s for sure.”
While Purdy is reminded of his right turf toe every time he gets up in the morning and during treatment, his scrambling against Cleveland looked as good as it ever has and there were no serious after-effects as there were when he attempted to come back too early on Sept. 28 against Jacksonville.
“It felt great, man,” Purdy said. “It’s gotten better, I feel every week. Just in general, I’m out there playing and worrying about my assignment, details, throws and not even thinking about my toe. It’s in a real good spot right now.”
If it’s not, Purdy knows the 49ers have something no other contender can match based on how things have gone this season.
They have Mac Jones.