Who Should I Start? Drew Lock or Mac Jones

Friday, January 16, 5:55 PM

Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Drew Lock is "ready to go" for the Divisional Round game this Saturday night against the San Francisco 49ers if Sam Darnold (oblique) can't play, according to head coach Mike Macdonald. Darnold popped up on the injury report on Thursday and was limited in practice due to an oblique injury. He is listed as questionable for Saturday's game, but all signs point to Darnold being active this weekend. But for some reason, if Darnold isn't feeling right on Saturday, the Seahawks would roll with Lock and not rookie QB Jalen Milroe. Lock wouldn't be a recommended QB for fantasy playoff lineups if Darnold is inactive. The 29-year-old signal-caller appeared in five games in 2025, going 2-for-3 passing for 15 yards. The Seahawks would most likely lean more on their ground game with running backs Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet if Lock made the start.

Wednesday, January 21, 3:34 PM

Both San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch seem intent on keeping quarterback Mac Jones around going into next season as the backup for Brock Purdy, according to Cam Inman of the Bay Area News Group. "We're not into getting rid of good players. I'd be surprised if he's not here next year," Shanahan said. "Mac made this place better and picked us up in a huge way ... Can't say enough about his play but also his leadership," Lynch said. The 27-year-old kept the 49ers afloat in 2025 with Purdy missing a chunk of time due to a turf-toe injury. He was in the first year of a two-year, $8.4 million contract, and all signs point to Jones returning in 2026 as one of the better backup QBs in the league. As a starter for the Niners this year, Jones went 5-3 while completing 69.6% of his passes for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions.