The 49ers had no shortage of deadline buzz around Mac Jones, and Kyle Shanahan made it clear he was relieved the quarterback stayed put.
Shanahan said clubs checked in on Jones before the deadline, and he was happy San Francisco kept him around.
“I know teams called on him these last 48 hours,” Shanahan said, via Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports. “And I’m very glad he’s still here.”
Jones understood why his name kept surfacing in trade talk. Injuries around the league tend to push quarterbacks into the spotlight, and he said he expected that kind of conversation.
“I figured something was going on,” Jones said. “I mean, when everyone starts talking about it, I guess you have to eventually think something was going on… The whole offseason, that’s all you hear about.
And you know, if one guy gets hurt, I’m one of the first names that comes up. That’s great.
But, also, I like the situation I’m in. I’m not taking anything for granted, and I know that at some point this year, if I’m needed, I’ll be ready and I’m going to go sling it.”
He also made it clear he never pushed for a move elsewhere.
“No, no, no,” Jones said. “I like it here.
To be honest, I’m treating it like I just got traded here today. So I’m going to continue to prove that I can play and be here when I’m needed.
There’s always speculation at the trade deadline, and to be talked about is good. But, obviously, it’s over and I’m really happy to be here.
It would be one thing if I were on a team I didn’t want to be on.”
San Francisco’s receiver plans also shifted before the deadline. General manager John Lynch said the team first zeroed in on Josh Downs before eventually landing on Keenan Allen.
“ We kind of focused on Josh Downs as an option that we’d have some interest, ” Lynch said, via 49erswebzone. “ And Kyle and I are kind of watching Josh, and in the process, Kyle’s like, ‘Man, what about Keenan?’
And I was like, ‘You know, we hadn’t given much thought to that, but let me ask about that.’ And so, there started a conversation about two and a half weeks ago, really, when the DeForest talks [happened].
‘Would he?’ And it’s always fluid, and at a certain time, they didn’t want to give up Keenan.
It kind of wasn’t going to be on the table, but we kept communicating, and ultimately we got him. ”
Lynch said Allen fits what the 49ers were looking for, and he pointed to the return of other receivers as a welcome sign for the group.
“ I think it’s a really good fit for us, ” Lynch said. “ We wanted to make an add at receiver, and he had a really good first day of practice.
It’s just the start, but he’ll fit in well, and really pleased to add him. It was good to have Deebo back on the practice field.
So, we’re starting to get healthy-[WR] DeMarcus Robinson came back last week. Deebo, if he can string a couple of more practices, we’ll have him back.
And then, to add Keenan to the guys who have already been doing a really good job, it sets up well for us.”
In Los Angeles, Aaron Donald is still waiting on his first sack of the 2026 season after seven games, but he isn’t losing sleep over it.
Donald said sacks usually arrive in waves, and his focus remains on helping the Rams win.
“Sacks come in bunches,” Donald said, via Pro Football Talk. “It’s going to come.
Just keep playing ball and keep finding ways to win. That’s the most important thing is winning.
No pressure, I’m not worried about it. I’ve been playing football since I was five, six years old.
They come in bunches. They’ll come eventually so just keep doing what I need to do to help this team.
When they present themselves, hopefully hold the ball and take advantage of it.”
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Garrett said he expects the scoreboard and the numbers to settle the rivalry, which is exactly the kind of backdrop that makes this one feel bigger than a single regular-season game. There is still some uncertainty around his availability, though, since he is listed as questionable because of a knee injury, leaving one more layer of suspense before the spotlight game gets underway. [Read more 🡒]