49ers vs Saints NFL Pick: The ‘Niners Visit the Big Easy With Purdy’s Status in Doubt (Sep 14)

• For NFL Week 2, 49ers-Saints, rebuilding New Orleans hosts playoff hopeful San Francisco
• ‘Niners’ QB Brock Purdy is unlikely to play with several injuries
• The Saints lost a tough battle to the Cardinals in Week 1
• The 49ers survived against the division rival Seahawks

49ers May Be Without Brock Purdy

The 49ers and Brock Purdy engineered a comeback win over the Seahawks in Week 1. Now, for Week 2 49ers-Saints, Purdy has several injuries that, according to head coach Kyle Shanahan, could shelve him at least for this week and possibly more.

If Purdy cannot play, backup Mac Jones will get the start.

Jones was effective for the Jaguars in 2024 after he replaced the injured Trevor Lawrence. He has weapons in San Francisco that he did not have playing for the Patriots, and Shanahan will not bury him or break him down as Bill Belichick did.

He can run the 49ers’ offense.

Tight end George Kittle is on injured reserve with a hamstring issue. They moved on from struggling kicker Jake Moody, replacing him with veteran Eddy Piñeiro.

If they are contending and the journeyman Piñeiro isn’t the answer, this is a place to watch for Justin Tucker when he’s completed his suspension.

On the bright side, Christian McCaffrey had been listed as questionable for Week 1, but he carried the ball 22 times for 69 yards and caught 9 balls for 73 yards. Brian Robinson Jr. carried the ball 9 times for 33 yards.

Nick Bosa and Fred Warner were a force defensively against the Seahawks.

Saints Have a Long Road Ahead

In Week 1, the Saints had a competitive showing against a mediocre Cardinals team, but lost 20-13. Quarterback Spencer Rattler completed 27 of 46 passes for 214 yards and ran for 29 yards on 4 carries. He did not throw a TD or a pick.

As solid as Rattler was, the Saints are going to have a tough time competing this season. They will rapidly need to decide whether to look at Tyler Shough or, at the extreme, consider tanking for Arch Manning.

Alvin Kamara ran for 45 yards on 11 carries and caught 2 balls for 12. He ran 18 yards for a TD in the second quarter against Arizona. Chris Olave caught 7 balls; Juwan Johnson caught 8.

It’s a positive for New Orleans that Kamara and Olave are back healthy after injury-plagued 2024 seasons.

On defense, they largely contained Kyler Murray, holding him to 163 yards passing and 38 yards on the ground. Pete Werner was in on 9 tackles. They amassed five sacks against Murray.

Rookie head coach Kellen Moore has a lot of work to do.

49ers vs Saints NFL Pick

The immediate reaction to Purdy being out for the 49ers and the Saints’ relatively sound showing against the Cardinals will be to weigh an upset. That is a mistake.

Jones can steer Shanahan’s offense efficiently, and with McCaffrey able to play relatively close to full strength, the 49ers’ defense will hold Rattler, Kamara, and the rest of the Saints’ offense in check and cover the 4.5-point spread on the road.