"I didn't expect him to be this good": George Kittle gets brutally honest about Mac Jones after 49ers' loss to Rams

Mac Jones and the San Francisco 49ers lost against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 10. The game ended in a 42-26 score in the Rams' favor. Jones put up a stat line of 319 passing yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. One of those touchdowns went to George Kittle.

After the game, Kittle gave the one-time Pro Bowler his props. When asked if he expected Jones to be this good, Kittle replied,

"I did not. Nope. It's awesome. What a hell of a football player I get why he was a first round draft pick, 33 of 39 or whatever the statistic was, that's a hell of a football game. Like he is playing really well. He's not, like, dangerous with the football either. Like, he makes good throws."

The perennial All-Pro TE continued,

"He forces a couple of, once in a while, but he's doing a great job. And, like, our offense isn't an easy offense for a quarterback. Like, I think... you're just required to do so much, and Christians up there too, because he does so much too. But for Mac to come in and just like, take control the offense and play at a high level consistently, it's awesome, and it makes me really happy, because I'm a huge fan of Mac Jones."

Jones has started eight games for the 49ers this season due to Brock Purdy's injury issues. He has posted a stat line of 2,151 passing yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions in the process.

The 49ers are 5-3 in games that Jones has started this season, and are 6-4 overall. The Alabama Crimson Tide product has stepped up admirably after beginning the season in a backup role.

Mac Jones poised to keep starting spot in Week 11

Brock Purdy has been inactive for six consecutive weeks due to a toe injury. The San Francisco 49ers star has not played since a Week 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Kyle Shanahan has since come out to say that Purdy could have suited up as Jones' backup against the Rams. The offensive guru eventually decided against the idea.

So, Mac Jones remains in the pole position to maintain his starting spot for the 49ers' game against the Arizona Cardinals. Jones will look to help his troops get back to winning ways and potentially close the game at the top of the NFC West.

Toe injuries are typically hard to predict, and it's unlikely that the 49ers will rush Purdy back to action. The goal now will be to get him back to full fitness as Mac Jones steadies the ship in the interim.