In a highly anticipated game, Jordan Mason stole the spotlight from Aaron Rodgers, leading the San Francisco 49ers to a 32-19 victory over the New York Jets on Monday night. Mason, stepping in for an injured Christian McCaffrey, ran for 147 yards and a touchdown, overpowering New York’s vaunted defense with his physical running style. His performance enabled the Niners to score on eight consecutive drives.
“I thought he runs like he always does,” said head coach Kyle Shanahan. “When you get him the ball, he breaks tackles, usually gets more than we block for. When we had the good lanes, he always hit them and got a bunch. But, JP was awesome today.”
Rodgers, making his long-awaited return after a torn Achilles a year ago, threw for 167 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Despite some mobility issues, he demonstrated flashes of the arm talent that earned him four MVP awards with the Green Bay Packers.
“I can play better,” Rodgers admitted. “I missed a couple of throws. … I felt overall I got the ball out pretty good but there were some opportunities I’d like to have back.”
Starting in his first career game, Mason capitalized on the opportunity in the absence of McCaffrey, whose sore calf and Achilles limited his availability. Mason’s 28 carries were the most for a 49ers player in a regular season game in 13 years, showcasing his ability to shoulder a full-time workload.
“I’m really excited for him,” stated quarterback Brock Purdy. “He’s earned it. He’s the kind of guy where it’s not given to him. To see him go out and do what he did tonight, I’m so happy for him.”
Deebo Samuel contributed with a 2-yard touchdown run, while Jake Moody tied a franchise record with six field goals, cementing the 49ers’ dominance. Purdy himself threw for 231 yards without a touchdown or turnover against a Jets defense that struggled without key edge rusher Haason Reddick.
The tides turned decisively around halftime. The 49ers extended their lead with a field goal on a 12-play, 75-yard drive to close the first half, followed by Mason’s 5-yard touchdown run on an 11-play, 70-yard drive to open the second half. This sequence ballooned their lead from 13-7 to 23-7, with the Jets managing only a kneel-down snap in between.
“That’s a championship outfit, and they introduced us to some championship football,” acknowledged Jets coach Robert Saleh.
Rodgers’ ensuing drive ended in an interception, with his pass to Garrett Wilson deflected by Deommodore Lenoir into the hands of linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles. However, Rodgers managed to throw his first touchdown pass in 610 days, taking advantage of a free play when Leonard Floyd jumped offsides to connect with Allen Lazard on a 36-yard score, reducing the deficit to 26-13. Lazard added a second touchdown catch from Tyrod Taylor in the waning seconds, but it was too little, too late.
“We expect greatness when we step on the field,” Rodgers stated. “There were moments, moments that felt pretty good but not sustained. I felt like if we could just get a first down we’d be rolling. But we had those three-and-outs which hurt us. I think a lot of stuff is correctable.”
Rodgers’ return was markedly longer than his first game as a Jet, which was cut short after just four snaps due to a severe Achilles injury. The Jets’ first drive of the game ended with two handoffs and a dropped pass before an early setback that was less dire than the previous year’s.
His first completion as a Jet went to Breece Hall, who then fumbled after a hit by Fred Warner, setting up a 49ers field goal. Rodgers found his rhythm on the next drive, completing passes on three third downs to set up Hall’s 3-yard touchdown run, finishing the drive 6-for-7 for 61 yards.
Despite this brief success, the Jets failed to secure another first down in the half, going into the break trailing 16-7.
