First, the story going into the first “Monday Night Football” game of the season was the return of quarterback Aaron Rodgers not just to the New York Jets lineup, after being injured in the season opener last year, but to the northern California area to play for his childhood team, the San Francisco 49ers.
Then, the story at game time was the seemingly last-minute decision that Niners running back Christian McCaffrey wouldn’t play, due to calf and other injuries.
And then, during the game – the story became Jordan Mason.
Mason, a former Georgia Tech standout who had little playing time so far in the NFL, might have just had his breakout moment on the NFL’s oldest prime-time stage, a 147-yard performance with a touchdown in a 32-19 win over Rodgers and the Jets.
Mason, who wasn’t drafted, not only filled in nicely for McCaffrey – if he can stay healthy, he might give the Niners a little insurance once CMC returns.
But it wasn’t anything that surprised San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan.
“I thought he runs like he always does,” Shanahan said, after the game. “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.”
Also for San Francisco (1-0), wide receiver, or “wide back,” as he calls himself, Deebo Samuel had a 2-yard touchdown run, and kicker Jake Moody tied a franchise record with six field goals in a game.
Quarterback Brock Purdy didn’t have a touchdown pass, but was steady in the season opener, going for 231 yards and no picks, and the offensive line – with a returning Trent Williams, who had been a holdout over training camp due to a contract dispute – kept Purdy standing.
The 49ers led 13-7 at the half, stretched to 23-7 before Rodgers found Allen Lazard to make it 26-13. Lazard caught a second touchdown late in the game from Tyrod Taylor, who replaced Rodgers after the game was getting out of hand.
Rodgers threw for 167 yards and the score, and an interception to Niners linebacker Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles off a tipped ball.
The 49ers will visit Minnesota on Sunday, and former Niners backup quarterback Sam Darnold, who helped the Vikings destroy the New York Giants (0-1) last weekend. The Jets (0-1) will be on the road for a second straight week, at Tennessee (0-1).
