As one former New York quarterback thrives in Minnesota, another stands on the sidelines now in a position he never thought he would be in after being drafted sixth overall in 2019. Daniel Jones’ time with the New York Giants ended unceremoniously when he was released after a 2-8 start this season, leaving him to find a new home in the NFL for the first time in six years. Jones decided to take the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad quarterback role, calling it an “awesome opportunity” to work with head coach Kevin O’Connell and starter Sam Darnold.
Could that be what Jones is looking for with the Vikings after watching Darnold regain his confidence and lead a team to an 11-2 record? Vikings legend Kyle Rudolph, an ex-teammate of Jones’ during their year together with the Giants, said that could be the plan. “He’s excited to be in that environment in Minnesota,” Rudolph told Fox News Digital. “To be around Kevin O’Connell, Josh McCown, the quarterbacks coach, to be able to kind of take a back seat and learn and really try to reestablish himself as a top-10 pick. A good quarterback in this league and a guy who, by the way, won a playoff game in that building and went to the divisional round.”
Jones broke out in that 2022 season, which included the Wild Card Round victory on the road at U.S. Bank Stadium against the Kirk Cousins-led Vikings. It ultimately led to a decision from the Giants to extend Jones long term, believing he had proved himself worthy of a new contract to remain the team’s franchise quarterback. That didn’t work out, however, as the Giants released him this season before they had the opportunity to opt out of his deal.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (AP Photo/Lennart Preiss)While the Giants stew over their next quarterback amid a terrible campaign, Jones perhaps has found new life in Minnesota. “What’s to keep DJ from being next year’s Baker Mayfield [or] Sam Darnold?” Rudolph said. “It’s a huge reason why he chose to go to Minnesota, knowing that there might be an opportunity for him in the future.”
Darnold, who signed a one-year, prove-it deal with the Vikings this past offseason, knew he needed to step up for the team all season, not just Week 1 when he won the starting job out of training camp. He’s done just that with an 11-2 record through 13 games while putting up career numbers. For now, though, Rudolph knows Jones is itching to get back on the field, but he’s playing his role well in his first few weeks with Minnesota.
“I think the biggest challenge for DJ is he’s always been the man. He was the sixth overall pick and quarterback for the New York Giants,” Rudolph said. “This past Sunday, he watched the game from the sidelines as the practice squad quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. That’s not easy. As a competitor, I know talking to him, he was like, ‘Man, I just felt useless standing there basically watching a game.’ It’s part of the process.”
Rudolph also surprised two Minnesota veterans with Polaris RZR Pro R vehicles during the Dec. 1 Salute to Service game. Through March 1, 2025, football fans can enter at Alltroo for a chance to win a Polaris RZR Pro R through donations that benefit Call of Duty Endowment, a program that helps place veterans in high-quality careers and supports veteran well-being.
