49ers' Purdy, Pearsall, Jennings ruled out for Rams game Thursday with injuries
The injury-ravaged San Francisco 49ers will again be missing multiple starters with injuries for the Thursday night game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Quarterback Brock Purdy will miss his third game of the season because of an injury to his toe. The Niners (3-1) also ruled out starting receivers Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings for the division showdown, with Pearsall out because of a knee injury and Jennings with injuries to his ankle and ribs.
Purdy missed games in Week 2 and 3 with the injured toe before returning this past Sunday against Jacksonville. He came out of that game with more soreness and will be unable to play on a short week.
Mac Jones will start in Purdy's place. Jones won both starts in Purdy's absence earlier this season, throwing for 563 yards with four TDs and one interception in wins over New Orleans and Arizona.
San Francisco is already without tight end George Kittle, who went on injured reserve with a hamstring injury following the season opener, and star defensive end Nick Bosa, who had a season-ending knee injury. Kittle's earliest possible return would be Week 6, when the 49ers play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Oct. 12, but there have been no updates on his return.
Purdy struggled at times against the Jaguars, missing several throws high. He went 22 for 38 for 309 yards and two touchdowns, but also had two interceptions and lost a fumble on a potential game-winning drive late in the fourth quarter. Purdy said he wasn't sure what impact the injury had on his performance.
Purdy now will have missed five of San Francisco's last 12 games with injuries dating to last season.
Jones said Tuesday he had been preparing as the starter and knows he will have a tough test against the Rams' defense.
"They're, in my opinion, the No. 1 defense in the NFL after watching them," he said. "I know statistically they're pretty high, but I've really been impressed with them. So, it's going to be a huge challenge. They do a lot of good stuff."
Receiver Jordan Watkins (calf) and defensive end Robert Beal (ankle) also will be out for San Francisco, while rookie defensive tackle C.J. West is questionable with a broken thumb.
The Rams are much healthier, listing only tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle) and tight end Tyler Higbee (hip) as doubtful.
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