It was supposed to be about the long-awaited return of Aaron Rodgers, but instead it was undrafted running back Jordan Mason who stole the show as the San Francisco 49ers defeated the New York Jets 32-19 on Tuesday.
The four-time MVP, who lasted just 94 seconds in his Jets debut last year before tearing his Achilles, looked solid in his return as he completed 13 of 21 passes for 167 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
But the 49ers controlled the game on the ground, with Mason leading the way behind a strong offensive line as he ran for a career-high 147 yards off 28 carries.
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Forget career-high though, this was a major step-up in responsibility for Mason, whose highest carry total in a single NFL game was 11. In fact, it was his most carries since high school.
Mason was stepping in for reigning offensive player of the year Christian McCaffrey, who had been questionable for Tuesday’s game with a calf injury.
McCaffrey had told reporters he was confident in not only playing but having his normal workload against the Jets, only to be ruled out after testing out his calf on game day according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Although Mason himself let it slip in an interview with Lisa Salters after the game that he had found out he was starting on Friday, which could get the 49ers in trouble with the NFL given McCaffrey was still listed as questionable on the Saturday injury report.
Mason did only say he found out he was starting so the 49ers could argue that they hoped to still use McCaffrey in a limited role to avoid any sort of fine that may come their way.
San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan, however, told reporters after the game that he did not tell Mason on Friday night that he would be starting.
“I never told Jordan he was going to start,” Shanahan said.
“I told him he had to be ready a bunch. But that might have been Bobby (49ers running back coach) or someone trying to pump him up. I knew he was going to have to play a lot. I told him it wasn’t going to be usual. I told him he was going to be a number two back that was splitting a lot of the time.”
While it was a statement from the 49ers to win comfortably without their biggest offensive weapon, it was a reality check of sorts — even if obviously early — for a Jets team that has high expectations this season.
There were glimpses of what could be though, with the connection between Rodgers and Garrett Wilson looking strong early.
The Jets’ superstar receiver consistently got open on his way to four catches for 45 yards on New York’s second drive of the game.
That helped march the Jets up the field and into scoring position, with running back Breece Hall punching it in to give New York a 7-3 lead after an early Jake Moody field goal.
Another Moody field goal closed the gap before third-year back Jordan Mason, filling in for the injured Christian McCaffrey, showed off his decisive, hard running style to put the 49ers in range to score the go-ahead touchdown.
Mason looked to have capped off his dominant drive with the score, only for it to be called back after offensive holding by Deebo Samuel.
But another strong Mason carry picked up a fresh set of downs for the 49ers, with a Samuel end-around putting the 49ers ahead 13-7.
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A pair of field goals and a Mason rushing touchdown extended the lead to 26-7 before Rodgers linked with Allen Lazard on a free play to reduce the deficit to 26-13.
But the Jets’ defence was unable to get the stops they needed to stop the 49ers from running away with it — literally — with the ground game continuing to produce while San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy mixed in a few chunk plays through the air too.
Lazard scored his second touchdown of the game late in the fourth quarter after the Jets sat Rodgers, bringing in back-up Tyrod Taylor with the result beyond doubt.
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