Mac Jones needed a warrior's mentality to make it through a grueling Thursday night game in Los Angeles.
Timely contributions from a familiar face sure helped, too. With San Francisco's top two receiving options sidelined, Jones partnered with former Patriots teammate Kendrick Bourne plenty in the prime-time game, leaning on the veteran receiver to the tune of 10 catches (on 11 targets) for a career-best 142 yards in a wild, back-and-forth affair at SoFi Stadium.
A cutdown day casualty in New England, Bourne has only been with the 49ers for a few weeks. After Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings were ruled out prior to Thursday night's game, it became clear the 49ers would need Bourne to step up. He did just that, serving as Jones' most reliable and productive target in a game plan built on quick releases in order to stay on schedule and prevent the Rams' pass rush from wrecking San Francisco's offense.
"KB's been awesome for us, man," Shanahan said after the 26-23 overtime win over the Rams. "For us to just add him in I think Week 2 and for him to just be a part of our group to end up becoming a starter here in these last two weeks ... the plays he made with his hands, the plays he made after the catch, he was great today."
After leaning heavily on running back Christian McCaffrey in the passing game in the first half, Bourne's role proved especially vital in the second half. He caught seven of his 10 receptions after the break, helping San Francisco move the football even after Los Angeles had enough time to adjust.
Based on how well Jones and Bourne played together, the average viewer might believe this was San Francisco's best quarterback-receiver pairing and not a partnership of backups delivering when they were needed most. But history and belief in one another can go a long way, especially under the bright lights of the prime-time stage.
"Mac's a good quarterback and KB's a good receiver," Shanahan said. "I know we call it chemistry when they connect but they like each other, they played with each other in New England. It was impressive today."
Bourne's 10 catches were a key part of Jones' performance, but not the only detail. The quarterback was remarkably decisive and efficient, completing 15 of 23 passes in the first half for 179 yards, two touchdowns and a passer rating of 117.8. In a game against a highly respected and accomplished veteran in Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford, the 49ers needed Jones to play this precise role to keep them in the game.
Jones didn't just keep the 49ers in the game -- he helped provide them with a 10-point halftime lead.
Jones' true value to the 49ers shined in the second half, especially after it became evident he was playing through significant leg pain and found the strength to pick himself up off the SoFi Stadium turf even after Rams defenders repeatedly crushed him. At one point late in the game after sustaining yet another hard hit, Jones even appeared to gag as he reached the sideline.
Through it all, he continued to battle. Bourne saw it as an example of Jones' growth as both a quarterback and a human.
"Mac is just, he's built the right way. His mental is the right way," Bourne said. "He prepares the right way. I've seen it for a while now. I'm just proud of him, man. ... You can tell he's confident and things like that.
"It's just awesome to see him in this space. How I seen him in New England was a different world for him. So to see him now, with the peace he has, he's playing free and having fun. I think it's a big part of the game for him and it's showing."
Jones has officially started more games in 2025 than franchise quarterback Brock Purdy and improved to 3-0 as a starter for San Francisco this season. He logged the second-most completions and passing yards in a game in his career Thursday night, pushing his passing touchdowns total to six, tying with Jim Plunkett for the most passing touchdowns by a 49ers player in their first three games with the team.
Bourne, meanwhile, tied his career-high mark for receptions Thursday night. Their combined efforts propelled the 49ers to an upset win in a game most thought might be lopsided in the Rams' favor.
Instead, the 49ers flew back home as the leaders in the NFC West after five games.
