Mac Jones was done. Even coach 49ers’ coach Kyle Shanahan thought so.

He was clearly struggling in the second half of a 26-23 overtime road victory against the Los Angeles Rams Thursday night to the point where it appeared he would have to leave the game.

Jones had taken a blow on his left knee, already protected by a brace. A calf was tightening up. Then his right arm began to cramp and he started to get sick on the sideline. Jones ate three bananas trying to regain some strength and potassium and drank pickle juice.

An IV was recommended but there were only seven minutes remaining.

“I was told he was cramping too hard and Adrian (Martinez) was going in,” Shanahan said Friday during a conference call with local media. “And then I looked up and Mac was in the huddle, so he just sprinted out therer and kept it going. I was like, `all right, let’s see how long this lasts.’ And it lasted the whole game.”

With Purdy experiencing a setback with his toe after going wire-to-wire against Jacksonville, Jones will be the likely starter when the 49ers resume play. Shanahan said Thursday night he was unaware of reports that had him out from two to five weeks, saying only it was week to week.

Behind Jones, the 49ers improved to 4-1 and are atop the NFC West, and thus the 74th regular season win in Shanahan’s nine years was also one of the most satisfying considering everything that went into it.

“It’s the fifth game of the season, and as far as the ramifications of that stuff, you never know how that plays out,” Shanahan said. “But it was unusually exhausting, just the competitive stamina you needed for that game — for a player, a coach, a fan, everyone. It was 84 (actually 86) plays, and every one seemed like it mattered . . . it all added up and that made it one of the more special ones that you’ll remember for a long time.”

With three days off, the 49ers are getting the closest thing they’ll have to their actual bye in Week 14, and they need it.

And it looks like tight end George Kittle, eligible to come off injured reserve this week with a hamstring strain, won’t be back for the 49ers’ Oct. 12 road game at Tampa Bay.

“He’s doing good, but I think it would be a long shot for him this week, just talking to the docs a second ago,” Shanahan said.

More likely, Shanahan said, Kittle returns on Oct. 19 when the 49ers host the Atlanta Falcons at Levi’s Stadium.

The good news is that safety Malik Mustapha, on the physically unable to perform list since offseason ACL surgery, could return to practice although that doesn’t mean he’d necessarily be ready to face the Bucs.

Defensive tackle Kalia Davis broke his hand and will have surgery, similar to what happened to C.J. West. He may or may not be available playing with a cast against the Bucs. Cornerback Upton Stout came out with an ankle injury — although not the dreaded high ankle sprain — and will be evaluated during the week of practice.

Defensive end Yetur Gross-Matos appears to be sidelined again, this time with a hamstring strain that Shanahan said “will take some time.” Defensive tackle Alfred Collins, who forced a Kyren Williams goal line fumble that was a huge play in the game, came out of the game with a sprained knee and will be evaluated when practice resumes Monday.

Tonges to the rescue

Missing Kittle for another week would seem like a bigger deal if it wasn’t for Jake Tonges, who has become a revelation as a little-known substitute from Cal and Los Gatos High.

Tonges caught seven passes for 41 yards and has three touchdowns this season. It all started with a game-winning touchdown reception from Brock Purdy in the opener, one he stole from Seattle defender Tariq Woolen.

“To make that unbelievable catch in the first game and how he’s been every week since, I just know I get a lot more confidence knowing plays that I can call for him,” Shanahan said. “His hands have been awesome and he’s really good in the run game too.”

Tight end Jake Tonges gets a lift from teammates after scoring on a 6-yard touchdown pass from Mac Jones against the Rams Thursday night. A.P. Photo

Looking for running room

The 49ers ended up averaging just 2.2 yards per carry with 74 yards on 33 attempts. And while forward progress has been a strain, the amount of carries was important to keep the Rams honest. Christian McCaffrey finished with 57 yards on 22 carries and had nine carries for 12 yards after halftime.

“You’re struggling to run the ball, but still knowing that you needed to try to control their defensive line a little bit,” Shanahan said.

Left tackle Trent Williams said the rushing attempts were valuable if not explosive.

“We had (407) yards of offense. So you know we didn’t abandon it,” Williams said. “We stuck to it. Kept handing it off and made them respect it. It opens up everything in back. You’ve got Christian McCaffrey, they’re going to sell out to stop him. They’re not going to let him eat them.”

Shanahan was pleased with the play of the offensive line, noting Jones was sacked only once.

“I expected there to be a lot more pressure on the quarterback than there was,” Shanahan said.

Interceptions, rushing TDs, who needs ’em?

The 49ers have now played a dozen games and seen 381 pass attempts without recording an interceptions.

The 49ers are five games into the season and still don’t have a rushing touchdown.

According to Associated Press statistical savant Josh Dubow, the 49ers are the first team since at least 1940 to have zero interceptions and zero touchdown runs through five games — regardless of record.

SNAP JUDGEMENTS

A look at who played and how much against the Rams:

86–That’s a lot of snaps in an NFL game, and six offensive starters were there for every one of them. Jones and the entire offensive line — left guard Connor Colby, Williams, center Jake Brendel, right guard Dominick Puni and right tackle Colton McKivitz.

76–McCaffrey was off the field for just 10 snaps. Brian Robinson played 12, and for the first time was in the game at the same time as McCaffrey.

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68–The 49ers time of possession advantage (40:04 to 26:20) kept the defense off the field for long stretches. Linebackers Fred Warner and Dee Winters, safeties Marques Sigle and Jason Pinnock and cornerbacks Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green never left the field. Green missed the Jacksonville game with neck injury.

63–Considered 50-50 to make the 53-man roster, Tonges has been a godsend in the absence of Kittle. He had seven receptions for 41 yards with a career high in snaps and has 19 receptions and three receptions this season.

38– Stout was considered an important piece in dealing with Puka Nacua in the slot. He was off the field for 30 snaps and has an ankle injury, but still had eight tackles.

36–Fullback Kyle Juszczyk had his most snaps since 37 in Week 1. He caught three passes for 21 yards and was stuffed at the goal line for a yard loss on his only carry.

28–Rookie defensive tackle C.J. West was available with his surgically repaired thumb heavily wrapped although he didn’t show up on the stat sheet.

8–Practice squad promotion Trevis Gipson had a fumble recovery in his 49ers’ debut.