Hours before the NFL trade deadline passed on Tuesday, the Vikings were reportedly sniffing around Mac Jones.
Dianna Russini of BetUS reported that Minnesota, a 6-2 team still hunting for quarterback help, had “checked in on” the 49ers backup, only to find the asking price “too high right now” for a possible move. The Vikings eventually landed Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders instead.
On Wednesday, Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Jones drew interest from more than one team in the final stretch before the deadline.
“I know teams called on him these last 48 hours,” Shanahan said of Jones, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area. “And I’m very glad he’s still here.”
The chatter around Jones wasn’t new. His name has floated through trade speculation on and off throughout 2026, even with Brock Purdy locked in as San Francisco’s starter. The 49ers made it clear from the winter into the fall that moving Jones would require “it would take real draft capital.”
That stance makes sense for a 7-1 team with Super Bowl aspirations. San Francisco wasn’t eager to part with a backup who has already proven he can step in and keep things moving.
Jones, for his part, sounded like a player with no desire to force his way out.
“No, no, no,” Jones told Maiocco when asked if he had pushed for a trade. “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.”
Jones’ value around the league is easy to understand. Last season, he went 5-3 while Purdy missed time with a toe injury, and that stretch helped fuel the idea that he might eventually want a shot at a starting job elsewhere. That move never came together.
“The whole offseason, that’s all you hear about,” Jones said about the rumors. “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.”
Jones is set to hit unrestricted free agency after the season, and it’s easy to see why teams would keep circling. At 28, he profiles as a possible bridge starter or even a longer-term answer for a club looking for help under center.
For now, though, he’s staying put in San Francisco and looking ahead to Sunday’s game at the 4-5 Dallas Cowboys.
“I’m just grateful for that and knowing that my time will come when God wants it to happen,” Jones added. “And right now I’m in that waiting-slash-preparing phase and supporting phase with Brock.
I’m going to do whatever I can to help him get ready. I just really want to keep winning and not be a distraction.
I’m glad that the trade deadline is over.”
In Other News...
Packers Could Bring A Very Different Backfield Into Vikings Week
Green Bay may be headed into Vikings week with a very different look in the backfield. Josh Jacobs is out for Week 10 after surgery on a broken finger, and his absence could stretch beyond the Packers bye in Week 11, forcing the team to reshuffle a rushing attack that has leaned on him heavily.
ESPNs Jeremy Fowler reported that Kaleb Johnson could be the next man up, with the former Steelers draft pick in line for a bigger role after his Week 9 showing against New England. Johnson ran 14 times for 68 yards and a touchdown in that game, and the Packers may use the matchup with Minnesota to see whether he can handle a longer stretch as the lead option. [Read more 🡒]
JJ McCarthy Weighed In On Kirk Cousins Vikings Return
Kirk Cousins return to Minnesota has already stirred up plenty of reaction, and JJ McCarthy was among the former Vikings figures asked to weigh in. Now the Giants quarterback, McCarthy was drafted by Minnesota before his path changed, so his perspective carries a little extra weight even as he settles into his own situation in New York. He kept the focus respectful, offering well wishes for Cousins and acknowledging the ties Cousins still has to former teammates in the Vikings locker room.
McCarthy also made clear where his attention needs to be now, pointing the conversation back to the Giants and their upcoming games. For Minnesota, Cousins return adds another layer to a familiar storyline, with a quarterback who knows the organization well stepping back into the picture and drawing interest from people who used to be part of it. McCarthys comments were brief, but they underscored how much the Vikings quarterback history still resonates even beyond the building. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings PFF Grades Expose Who Held Up In Bills Loss
Pro Football Focus Week 9 grades offered a blunt look at where the Vikings stood after the loss to Buffalo, breaking down which players managed to steady the game and which ones struggled to keep up. The numbers cut across offense, rushing, line play and the defensive front, giving a fuller picture than the final score alone and showing how uneven the performance really was from snap to snap.
On offense, the grades made it clear that Minnesota had a hard time finding consistency, while the defensive chart was more encouraging in spots even as the Bills still found enough answers to win. The most revealing part of the review was how sharply the individual evaluations separated the best efforts from the worst, leaving a few familiar names at the top and bottom of the list and underscoring how much the Vikings still need cleaner play across the roster. [Read more 🡒]