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Mac Jones Is Back in the Vikings Rumor Mill

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Mac Jones warms up before a San Francisco 49ers game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones loosens up before a road game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The former first-round passer prepared for action on November 2, 2025, as his future role remained a topic of discussion around the league entering the second half of the season. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images.

Before Kyler Murray signed with the Minnesota Vikings in March, some fans and media members believed Minnesota could swing a trade for San Francisco 49ers QB2 Mac Jones as the quarterback insurance behind J.J. McCarthy in 2026.

Jones to Minnesota became moot in a hurry when Murray signed on the Vikings’ dotted line, but now, thanks to Bleacher Report, the Jones rumor mill has resurged.

Bleacher Report Says Vikings Could Revisit the Jones Option

Mac Jones throws a pass for the San Francisco 49ers against the New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones delivers a pass against the New Orleans Saints during action at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. The veteran passer made plays through the air on September 14, 2025, while handling starting duties for San Francisco during the early portion of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images.

BR: Vikings Should Consider Trading for Jones

Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cleveland Browns made the cut on Mo Moton’s list that detailed trade destinations for Jones, and the Vikings were not excluded.

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He wrote, “The Minnesota Vikings made a low-risk, high-reward move in signing quarterback Kyler Murray, who’s only under contract for the 2026 season. He’s the favorite to win the starting job over J.J. McCarthy, according to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert.”

“Though even if Murray has a bounce-back year, the Vikings may not keep him around for the long term. Remember, they allowed Sam Darnold to walk after his first Pro Bowl campaign. Minnesota can get ahead of the rising cost of the quarterback market by acquiring Jones and signing him to an extension after the 2026 term if Murray does enough to spike his 2027 market value.”

Jones played marvelously in 2025 when Brock Purdy got hurt.

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“Jones will also be a free agent next year, but he won’t be able to demand as much as a starting quarterback with decent passing numbers. The Vikings could make the playoffs with Murray, which would likely push them out of range for a top 2027 quarterback prospect,” Moton continued.

“Instead of earmarking significant cap space for him or hoping for a trade-up in next year’s draft, they can acquire and extend Jones to stabilize their quarterback room.”

Jones’ Career Production

Jones’s career has unfolded in three distinct chapters. His rookie season in New England suggested a very promising future as a long-term starter, as he amassed 3,801 yards and 22 touchdowns, even leading the Patriots to the playoffs. But subsequent seasons saw a decline in both his performance and the team’s success. Over the 2022 and 2023 seasons, he registered a less impressive 24 touchdowns against 23 interceptions — so, a sophomore slump that didn’t end.

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A fresh start arrived in 2024 with the Jacksonville Jaguars after the Patriots moved on, where Jones started 7 games and stabilized his play enough to remain relevant. The true test, however, arrived in San Francisco. In 2025, he started 8 games while Brock Purdy was injured, going 5-3. During that period, Jones completed an impressive 69.6% of his passes, throwing for 2,151 yards, 13 touchdowns, and six interceptions.

Mac Jones throws downfield for the San Francisco 49ers against the Arizona Cardinals at Levi's Stadium.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Mac Jones fires downfield against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. Jones directed the offense on September 21, 2025, while making another start for San Francisco and continuing a productive stretch during the middle portion of the regular season. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images.

Across five seasons, Jones has accumulated 12,741 passing yards, 67 touchdowns, and 50 interceptions. While he may not fulfill the “franchise savior” expectations once held for him, his displayed solid play that emulated Malik Willis last year in Green Bay.

Moton thinks the Vikings are an option for that tale.

Probably a 2027 Free Agency Idea if Vikings’ QBs Fail

Moton’s article outlines teams that should trade for Jones by November’s trade deadline. By then, Minnesota will know the early returns from the Murray experiment or how McCarthy is trending in Year No. 3. Depending on quarterback injuries around the league, San Francisco will likely price-gouge Jones, only selling if it can grab a 2nd- or 3rd-Rounder, for example. He’s one of the best backup passers in the league, and Purdy isn’t necessarily Iron Man. The 49ers won’t sell short.

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Meanwhile, Minnesota has a new general manager, Nolan Teasley, who probably isn’t eager to peddle his draft picks before selecting a single rookie. Teasley took over a few weeks ago; Rob Brzezinski steered the ship during April’s draft.

If Murray and McCarthy wholly fail in 2026, Jones is a talker for the Vikings during the 2027 offseason — when he will be “free” in free agency. Why donate a handsome draft pick to San Francisco in November when Minnesota could, theoretically, sign Jones outright in March?

Another Sam Darnold in the Making?

A team will give Jones a shot at the QB1 job before too long. Based on his 2025 production — 8 starts — he’d bank 4,570 passing yards, 28 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions when scaled to 17 games.

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Mac Jones and Aaron Rodgers speak after a game between the Jaguars and Jets at EverBank Stadium.
Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Mac Jones and New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers meet after their game at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville. The two veteran passers shared a moment on the field following the December 15, 2024 matchup, with Jones closing his season in Jacksonville before later joining the San Francisco 49ers. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images.

In a league that re-empowered Sam Darnold and Baker Mayfield to thrive — the aforementioned Willis may be next in Miami — Jones won’t be excluded from second chances. One could argue that he played just as well as Purdy last season.

It may not be the Vikings, especially via trade in 2026, but Jones’s story is far from over. He could be the go-to guy via trade this season when a QB1 from a Super Bowl contender inevitably gets hurt.

Jones will turn 28 in September.


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Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … More about Dustin Baker

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Man City vs Inter LIVE confirmed squad members plus early team news and how to watch

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Goalkeepers: Marcus Bettinelli, Gianluigi Donnarumma, Jack Wint, Max Chabot

Defenders: Rayan Ait-Nouri, Vitor Reis, Josko Gvardiol, Abdukodir Khusanov, Kaden Braithwaite, Max Alleyne, Rico Lewis, Matty Henderson-Hall, Stephen Mfuni

Midfielders: Tijjani Reijnders, Mateo Kovacic, Nico Gonzalez, Claudio Echeverri, Floyd Samba, Jaden Heskey, Xavier Parker

Forwards: Savinho, Jeremy Monga, Antoine Semenyo, Phil Foden, Ryan McAidoo, Divine Mukasa, Divin Mubama, Mahamadou Sangare

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Read more about the selections and who had missed out here>>>

LONDON, ENGLAND - MAY 16: Phil Foden holds the FA Cup trophy in the air as he sits on the shoulder of Gianluigi Donnarumma during the Emirates FA Cup Final match between Chelsea and Manchester City on May 16, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling - The FA/The FA via Getty Images)

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Zavier Lucero laments lapses in close Magnolia loss

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Magnolia Hotshots' Zavier Lucero during a game vs Ran or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2026 PBA Governors' Cup

Magnolia Hotshots’ Zavier Lucero during a game vs Ran or Shine Elasto Painters in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Magnolia forward Zavier Lucero was humble in defeat in the Hotshots’ heartbreaking 98-97 loss to Rain or Shine in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

Instead of playing the blame game, Lucero owned up to his mistakes and said he could’ve done better to help quell the Elasto Painters’ fourth-quarter rally.

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“Today, I feel like I let the guys down a little bit,” he told the Inquirer. “I didn’t produce as much as I hoped I would.”

“My role in this team is to defend… Tonight, I don’t think I did too good of a job but that’s basketball.”

Lucero finished with a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds, along with a steal and a block.

However, he couldn’t help stop not one, but two clutch baskets from Adrian Nocum in the paint that ultimately spelled doom for the Hotshots.

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Still, Lucero vowed to learn from the loss while tipping his hat to import KJ Buffen, who picked up the slack offensively.

“He draws so much attention as expected, he’s the import. He’s a really good player,” he said of Buffen, who also ended up with a double-double of 31 points and 17 rebounds.

“He’s really good and I’m just trying to pick up the pieces.”

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Lucero looks to bounce back on Sunday when Magnolia takes on Barangay Ginebra in the newest chapter of the “Manila Clasico” rivalry at Araneta Coliseum.



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Clark records triple-double in Fever’s victory over Fire

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PORTLAND, Ore. — Caitlin Clark had 26 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists for her fourth career triple-double, and the Indiana Fever won their fifth straight with a 112-98 victory over the Portland Fire on Friday night. 

Kelsey Mitchell also had 26 points for the Fever (19-10), who have won nine of their last 11 and had five straight games with 100 points. 

Bridget Carleton had 26 points for the Fire (11-18), who have lost four straight.

The Fever pulled away in the third quarter, going up by 18 points to lead 90-72 heading into the fourth quarter. Makayla Timpson hit a layup that pushed the lead to 10 points to open the fourth. 

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Portland closed the gap, pulling to 98-88 on Carleton’s 3-pointer with 4:08 left. She had a layup that made it 100-93 to get the Fire even closer. Clark hit free throws to make it 110-96 with just a minute to go and the Fire ran out of time. 

There was a pregame rally outside of the Moda Center in support of Sophie Cunningham and her recent comments about barring transgender athletes from women’s and girls’ sports. A similar rally was held before the Fever’s 105-94 victory at the Seattle Storm on Tuesday. 

Cunningham was booed by the Moda Center crowd when she came into the game midway through the first quarter. Shortly thereafter, she hit a three-pointer that put the Fever up 14-8. Cunningham finished with 13 points.

Megan DiLeo’s three-pointer put the Fire up 36-30, but the Fever clawed back a 56-47 lead at the half. Clark led the Fever with 17 first-half points. 

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The game was a sellout with a Fire-record 19,959 in attendance. 

Fever: At Minnesota on Sunday.

Fire: Host Los Angeles on Sunday. 

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Redblacks one loss away from tying modern-era CFL record for longest losing streak

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New coaching staff, same old results for the Ottawa Redblacks.

Despite bringing in two-time Grey Cup-winning head coach Ryan Dinwiddie this season, the Redblacks fell to 0-7 with a 34-13 loss to the Montreal Alouettes on Friday in the nation’s capital.

Dating back to last season, it marked the 13th consecutive loss for a Redblacks team that has not won a playoff game since 2018. It was also Ottawa’s 13th loss in a row against its closest geographical rival.

The latest loss puts the Redblacks just one defeat away from tying the modern-era — since the creation of the CFL in 1958 — league record for most losses in a row.

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The record was set by the Shreveport Pirates, who lost their first 14 games in their expansion season in 1994.

The Pirates were owned by former Ottawa Rough Riders and Renegades owners Bernie and Lonnie Glieberman, who presided over some dismal days in Ottawa football.

The Gliebermans bolted from Ottawa late in the Rough Riders era to start the Pirates franchise, which lasted two years in Louisiana before the CFL gave up on its American experiment. The father-son duo returned to Ottawa in 2005 for the final year of the Renegades before that franchise folded. Bernie passed away in 2024.

The Redblacks, who brought Ottawa back to the CFL in 2014, will have their hands full avoiding the record book. They play their next three games on the road, starting next Friday in Saskatchewan, followed by contests in Winnipeg and Montreal.

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Six other teams also lost 13 games in a row before avoiding a 14th consecutive defeat.

The Redblacks still have a ways to go to match the all-time Canadian football record, set by the Ottawa Senators and Rough Riders, who lost 25 in a row from 1928 to 1932. The Hamilton Wildcats sit second, with 16 straight defeats from 1948 to ’49.

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Chris Newsome urges quick turnaround for Meralco after loss

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Meralco Bolts' Chris Newsome and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings' Riley Grigsby during a game in the 2026 PBA Governors' Cup.Meralco Bolts' Chris Newsome and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings' Riley Grigsby during a game in the 2026 PBA Governors' Cup.

Meralco Bolts’ Chris Newsome and Barangay Ginebra Gin Kings’ Riley Grigsby during a game in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup. –MARLO CUETO/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines—Meralco guard Chris Newsome knows the Bolts can’t afford to dwell on another setback in the 2026 PBA Governors’ Cup.

The veteran guard stressed the importance of moving on quickly after the Bolts fell to Barangay Ginebra, 84-75, at Mall of Asia Arena on Friday.

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“We got to have short-term memory. It’s tough when you lose a game like that. We didn’t have momentum, we didn’t shoot well, it was one of those nights that you want to try and forget quickly,” he told the Inquirer.

“With a game on Sunday, that’s exactly what we have to do. We have to find a way to erase this one.”

Playing with a depleted lineup, the Bolts trailed from start to finish after falling behind, 18-10, at the end of the first quarter and never matched the Gin Kings’ intensity.

With a 2-3 card and a long break looming, Newsome hopes Meralco quickly shifts its focus to Sunday’s matchup against a surging Rain or Shine squad at Araneta Coliseum.

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“We have to stay positive in the things that we do. We have to continue to trust what we do even if it didn’t show up today,” he said.

“Things aren’t gonna go your way all the time but we have to stay strong and keep pushing forward.”



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Judo gold rush, Neeraj Chopra claims silver, Tejaswin Shankar scripts decathlon history

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Team India enjoyed a landmark ninth day at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow on Friday, July 31. Highlighted by a historic double gold sweep on the judo mat, a podium finish in the men’s javelin throw, and a groundbreaking medal in athletics, the Indian contingent added significantly to its collection as the Games hit their climax. Team India’s medal tally stands at 23 won medals after day 9, along with 10 guaranteed medals locked in for upcoming finals.

Here is a full breakdown of how Team India performed across venues on Day 9.


Judo: Twin Commonwealth Games golds and silver mark red-letter day for Indian combat sports

Judo - Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games: Day 8 - Source: GettyJudo - Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games: Day 8 - Source: Getty
Judo – Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games: Day 8 – Source: Getty

India’s judokas produced a standout performance at the venue, delivering one of the finest single-day displays in the country’s Commonwealth Games history.

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Asmita Dey scripts Golden Score drama

In the women’s 48kg final, young judoka Asmita Dey displayed remarkable resilience against Canada’s Heidi Quach. After a tight bout during regulation time, the contest moved into Golden Score overtime, where Asmita executed a decisive throw to score a Yuko and secure India’s first judo gold medal in Glasgow.

Harsh Singh doubles the gold tally

Minutes later in the men’s 60kg final, Harsh Singh completed a flawless tournament run. Taking on Australia’s Joshua Katz, Harsh remained composed before scoring a crucial point in the closing moments to bag India’s second judo gold medal of the day.

Yamini Maurya earns silver

In the women’s 57kg final, Yamini Maurya added to India’s combat medal count with a hard-fought silver medal. Yamini reached the final following an emphatic 98-second Ippon victory in her semi-final bout before falling short against England’s Acelya Toprak.


Track & field: Javelin double podium and historic decathlon medal at Commonwealth Games

Neeraj Chopra takes silver; Yash Vir Singh claims bronze

The marquee event of the evening took place at the stadium in the men’s javelin throw final. Two-time Olympic medalist Neeraj Chopra registered a season-best effort of 85.83m to claim the silver medal. Sri Lanka’s Rumesh Pathirage captured gold with a massive 89.75m throw.

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Joining Chopra on the podium was teammate Yash Vir Singh, who launched a personal best throw of 85.41m on his final attempt to snatch the bronze medal and secure a 2-3 finish for India.

Tejaswin Shankar scripts decathlon history

Multi-event athlete Tejaswin Shankar turned in a heroic two-day performance across ten grueling disciplines to claim the bronze medal in the men’s decathlon with a total of 7,976 points. Shankar’s podium finish marks India’s first-ever Commonwealth Games medal in the decathlon.


Boxing: Unbeaten semi-final sweep sends ten Indians into finals of Commonwealth Games 2026

India’s boxing squad put together a dominant session, winning all scheduled semi-final bouts to guarantee ten spots in the gold medal clashes:

  • Women’s 54kg: Preeti Pawar defeated Zambia’s Catherine Mwape via a unanimous 5-0 decision.
  • Men’s 80kg: Ankush Panghal controlled his bout against Canada’s Joshua Ofori to advance.
  • Women’s 57kg: Jaismine Lamboria notched a Referee Stops Contest (RSC) victory over Lesotho’s Rapelanf Maselela.
  • Women’s 70kg: Arundhati Chaudhary comfortably defeated Rosie Eccles of Wales.
  • Men’s 55kg: Jadumani Singh outpointed Namibia’s Philip Haoseb via unanimous decision.
  • Women’s 51kg & 60kg: Sakshi Chaudhary and Priya Ghanghas sealed victories over their respective semi-final opponents.
  • Heavyweight bouts: Lovlina Borgohain, Sachin Siwach, and Narender Berwal closed out the day with semi-final wins.

Lawn bowls and track cycling at Commonwealth Games

Here is the performance of Indian athletes at lawn bowls and track racing on day 9:

  • Lawn bowls: The men’s pairs duo of Navneet Singh and Dinesh Kumar extended their unbeaten run by defeating the Falkland Islands 2-0 in sectional play to move into the knockout rounds. In women’s singles, Nayanmoni Saikia posted a convincing 2-0 win over Zambia’s Mildred Mkandawire.
  • Track cycling: Harshveer Sekhon and Dinesh Kumar competed in the men’s 4000m individual pursuit qualification rounds but missed out on advancing to the final heat.