The trade deadline chatter around Mac Jones never really got out of the rumor stage, but it was loud enough to follow him right up to Tuesday afternoon.
According to Dianna Russini of BetUS, the 6-2 Minnesota Vikings “checked in on” the San Francisco 49ers backup before the deadline, only to find the asking price “too high right now” for a possible move. Minnesota ended up landing Kirk Cousins from the Las Vegas Raiders instead.
On Wednesday, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that Jones was drawing attention from around the league.
“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 interest makes sense. Brock Purdy remains locked in as San Francisco’s starter, but Jones has spent 2026 as a steady presence behind him, and the 49ers made it clear from winter into fall that it would take real draft capital to pry him away. With the 7-1 49ers sitting in contention, they had no reason to part with a backup they trust.
Jones, for his part, didn’t sound like someone itching to escape.
“No, no, no,” Jones told Maiocco about possibly asking 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.”
That’s been the storyline around Jones for a while now. Last season, he went 5-3 when Purdy was out with a toe injury, and that stretch fueled the idea that he might eventually want a chance to compete for a starting job elsewhere. Nothing came together, though, and the rumors never turned into a deal.
“The whole offseason, that’s all you hear about,” Jones said about the trade 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 on pace to hit unrestricted free agency after the season, and at 28, he figures to draw interest from at least one team that sees him as either a bridge starter or a longer-term answer.
For now, though, he’s staying put in San Francisco and looking ahead to Sunday’s matchup 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.”
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The bigger concern, though, is on the other side of the ball, where the secondary is suddenly dealing with a crowded injury report. Deommodore Lenoir and Renardo Green both missed practice, several other defensive backs were limited, and even a few key veterans on offense and defense, including Trent Williams and Dre Greenlaw, were working through new issues of their own. For a team that has leaned on depth and versatility all season, the timing of those absences is less than ideal. [Read more 🡒]
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Porter also pushed back on the contract chatter around his absence, saying the injury is the only reason he is out. From the 49ers perspective, the bigger picture is simple: Purdy is expected to play, and Dallas has shown defensive vulnerability against the run, which could force the Cowboys to pick their poison if their top corner cannot go. [Read more 🡒]
Brock Purdy Explained The Thumbs-Down That Added Edge To A Rout
The 49ers kept rolling with a 38-17 win over the Raiders, a result that pushed them to 7-1 and into a tie for the best record in the NFL. Brock Purdy was at the center of it again, throwing for 232 yards and two touchdowns while adding a rushing score, and the offense looked every bit like a unit that has settled into a rhythm behind a defense that has been doing its part all season.
Purdy also added a little extra edge to the afternoon with a thumbs-down gesture he later framed as playful rivalry banter, the kind of small flash that can turn a comfortable win into a talking point. For San Francisco, the bigger picture is even more important now, with Dallas up next and the 49ers carrying both momentum and a defense that has been holding opponents in check while the schedule gets tougher. [Read more 🡒]