SANTA CLARA — There wasn’t a lot to learn from the 49ers’ 30-9 exhibition loss Saturday night to the Denver Broncos.

Denver basically had its way with the 49ers’ reserves at Levi’s Stadium. The only early highlight for the fans who braved the heat and actually showed up was a first-drive touchdown engineered by quarterback Mac Jones. There was solid visual evidence there’s a lot less concern in, around and outside the building if Brock Purdy goes down.

Jones was 4 of 7 for 74 yards overall, and there was a diminishing returns aspect of the three series he played in the first quarter with a makeshift offensive unit that was missing four starting offensive linemen in tackles Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz, guard Dominick Puni and center Jake Brendel. Also sitting it out were Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Jauan Jennings and Ricky Pearsall.

Not having eight starters had an impact, of course.

On series No. 2, the 49ers went three-and-out as Jones was forced to run for his life from Denver outside linebacker Nick Bonitto, one of the NFL’s top edge rushers. He threw a quick screen intended for Watkins into the ground. On series No. 3, Watkins appeared to drift on a route to the outside and Jones threw it anyway. It was intercepted by Ja’Quan McMillian.

“He just got confused on the route,” coach Kyle Shanahan said of Watkins.

The first drive, however, was a replay of what Jones has been doing with regularity through the first 12 practices of training camp.

He threw short and to his left to Demarcus Robinson for 8 yards, then after Patrick Taylor Jr. was dumped for a 3-yard loss, Jones showed off his arm. With Watkins heading down the left sideline with little room to spare against McMillian with former 49er Talanoa Hufanga trailing, Jones hit him with a 50-yard strike to the Denver 16.

Before the drive was over, Jones would complete a 4-yard pass in the right flat to Taylor, and then showed he’s adept at the quarterback sneak with a 1-yard plunge to convert a fourth-and-1 to the Denver 5. That set up a 5-yard touchdown run by Taylor.

The drive was 71 yards on eight plays and took 4:19 off the clock.

“I’m on a new team again and you get more comfortable as time goes along,” Jones said. “We started out fast against a No. 1 defense. I felt like the guys answered the question there and we just have to really play better in the other two drives. We get another chance next week to go out there and do it.”

“I thought Mac performed well,” Shanahan said. “I like how he came out. It was a challenge, especially going against that defense. Loved the first drive, next one we went three and out. I was happy with Mac today.

There wasn’t a lot of offense from Jones or the 49ers in the aftermath, but it least it puts the 49ers a leg up on where they were a year ago when Brandon Allen and Joshua Dobbs were staging a battle to be QB2 behind Purdy.

Neither was up to the task, although considering the 49ers’ injury issues, any quarterback would have had trouble.

It’s likely Jones will be called into duty at some point. It’s just the nature of the NFL. Purdy was No. 3 as a rookie when both Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo went down. Last season, Purdy hurt his shoulder in Week 10 against Seattle and Allen started against Green Bay.

Allen is a moderately talented backup who Shanahan trusted to run the offense as designed. The 49ers lost 38-10, with Allen going 17 of 29 for 199 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

Mac Jones of the 49ers absorbs a first-quarter sack under heavy pressure from the Denver defense Saturday night at Levi’s Stadium. Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group

Purdy had an elbow strain with nerve inflammation in a Week 17 loss to Detroit. In the season finale in Arizona, this time Shanahan went with Dobbs, conceding that perhaps the only way to generate offense was with a quarterback who could run around and convert broken plays.

Dobbs passed for 326 yards and two touchdowns but had two interceptions and a lost fumble. The 49ers lost 47-24.

Jones, in contrast to Allen and Dobbs, is a first-rate, first-round talent. Shanahan knows this because he on some level debated selecting him with the 49ers’ first pick at No. 3 in the NFL Draft but regrettably went with Lance instead, only to be bailed out by Purdy the next year.

“Mac’s a good quarterback and he’s done some good things in this league,” Shanahan said. “He’s had a hell of a camp with us and he did a real good job today. It’s always hard when you have the No. 2 and the No. 3 compete, they’ve to split those reps. We have much more of an idea now of who is No. 1 and who is No. 2.”

Jones did some good things in New England but not good enough to be the future. Then he went to a broken franchise in Jacksonville. As a free agent, he made the same decision Sam Darnold did in 2023, opting to rebuild his confidence and his reputation by learning Shanahan’s system and backing up Purdy with a two-year, $7 million contract.

“I think every day you learn something new in the system,” Jones said. “I obviously get the chance to go out and play the game and feel things out. My first time taking real snaps in this offense. I’m looking forward to the growth that all of us will be able to do. I want to play better and put more points out there.”

Tight end Luke Farrell, a teammate in Jacksonville, believes he sees a difference in Jones.

“I think he’s great in the system,” Farrell said. “I think he’s taken another step in his development and his career and it’s been real cool to take the journey with him. He’s just a great guy to have in the room, real positive energy.”

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Jones likes to laugh and was labeled a “kind of a goofball” by Farrell. Nick Zakelj, the starter at right guard Saturday night, said his demeanor changes in the huddle.

“Mac’s one of the funnier guys I’ve come across,” Zakelj said. “Always has a smile on his face, brightening everybody’s days. It’s an infectious energy. But he’s still a commanding presence when it’s time for business.”

Jones also appears to have bonded with Purdy, who watched from the sideline and every so often gave his two cents’ worth.

“He was chewing on some sunflower seeds, enjoying the game,” Jones said. “He gave us our space and was encouraging everybody and just being Brock. We talked about the interception and what I can do better out there. It’s a group effort.”

Sounds like a plan. A backup plan.