“It’s kind of funny to put all that time into him for the draft and wait five years later but having him on our team five years later, we’re excited to get to work with him. I just loved how he played the position, especially in college. He got the ball to the right spot, didn’t take sacks, would hang in there and get hit to distribute the ball to his playmakers,” Shanahan told reporters. We’re pretty sure this is just complimentary coachspeak rather than some deep Brock Purdy Will Be Punished for Holding Out lore, but as Sam Darnold’s 49ers tenure taught us, anybody with a pulse in the 49ers quarterback room is going to get some public love.

Jones took over for an injured Trevor Lawrence in Week 10 and made two starts. Lawrence then took a brutal hit to the helmet in his first game back from the shoulder issue, landing him on injured reserve and ending his season. Jones went 2-5 as a starter. He averaged 206 plus one touchdown and as many interceptions per game from Week 10 onward. Jones also helped rookie wideout Brian Thomas Jr. finish the season in style, racking up nearly 700 yards in his final eight games. Jones made too many mistakes and showed too little arm strength to earn even a shot at a starting job in 2025, but he did enough to maintain his backup status with free agency on the horizon.

The Jaguars offense was not pretty, but got the job done against the Titans. Jones had an intentional grounding in the first quarter, but got to humming later, finding Parker Washington in the back of the end zone for a two-yard score in the second quarter. He connected with rookie Brian Thomas Jr. often, finding him for an 11-yard score in the third quarter. The Jaguars did not need anything more against a stumbling Titans team. Jacksonville gets the win, but loses the battle for higher draft pick. Jones should not be in fantasy consideration for Week 18.