49ers' Kyle Shanahan thought Mac Jones was done . . . and then he went back on the field

"I was told he was cramping too hard and Adrian (Martinez) was going in, Shanahan said Friday during a conference call with local media. And then I looked up and Mac was in the huddle, so he just sprinted out therer and kept it going. I was like, `all right, let's see how long this lasts.' And it lasted the whole game."

"It's the fifth game of the season, and as far as the ramifications of that stuff, you never know how that plays out, Shanahan said. But it was unusually exhausting, just the competitive stamina you needed for that game for a player, a coach, a fan, everyone. It was 84 (actually 86) plays, and every one seemed like it mattered . . . it all added up and that made it one of the more special ones that you'll remember for a long time."

"Jones had taken a blow on his left knee, already protected by a brace. A calf was tightening up. Then his right arm began to cramp and he started to get sick on the sideline. Jones ate three bananas trying to regain some strength and potassium and drank pickle juice. An IV was recommended but there were only seven minutes remaining."

Kyle Shanahan believed Mac Jones might have to leave after Jones suffered a left-knee blow, a tightening calf and right-arm cramps late in the second half of a 26-23 overtime road victory against the Los Angeles Rams. Jones became ill on the sideline, ate three bananas and drank pickle juice while an IV was considered with seven minutes remaining. Adrian Martinez prepared to enter, but Jones sprinted back into the huddle and finished the game. With Brock Purdy experiencing a toe setback, Jones is the likely starter when the 49ers resume play. The 49ers improved to 4-1 after an exhausting, 86-play contest.

Read at www.mercurynews.com