As one former New York quarterback thrives in Minnesota, one other stands on the sidelines now ready he by no means thought he can be in after being drafted sixth general in 2019.Â
Daniel Jones’ time with the New York Giants ended unceremoniously when he was launched after a 2-8 begin this season, leaving him to discover a new dwelling within the NFL for the primary time in six years.Â
Weighing his choices, Jones determined to take the Minnesota Vikings’ observe squad quarterback function, calling it an “superior alternative” to work with head coach Kevin O’Connell and starter Sam Darnold, the ex-New York Jet whose profession has been revitalized this season.
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New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (AP Picture/Lennart Preiss)
Might that be what Jones is on the lookout for with the Vikings after watching Darnold regain his confidence and lead a staff to an 11-2 document?Â
Vikings legend Kyle Rudolph, an ex-teammate of Jones’ throughout their 12 months along with the Giants, mentioned that might be the plan after spending time with Jones two weekends in the past earlier than, throughout and after the staff’s win over the Arizona Cardinals.Â
“He’s excited to be in that setting in Minnesota,” Rudolph instructed Fox Information Digital whereas additionally pertaining to his shock at two Minnesota army veterans after teaming up with Polaris and Name of Responsibility in Week 13. “To be round Kevin O’Connell, Josh McCown, the quarterbacks coach, to have the ability to form of take a again seat and be taught and actually attempt to reestablish himself as a top-10 choose. A very good quarterback on this league and a man who, by the best way, gained a playoff recreation in that constructing and went to the divisional spherical.”
VIKINGS LEGEND KYLE RUDOLPH ON WHY IT’S ‘REALLY TOUGH’ TO SEE SAM DARNOLD RETURNING TO MINNESOTA NEXT SEASON
Jones broke out in that 2022 season that Rudolph referenced, which included the Wild Card Spherical victory on the street at U.S. Financial institution Stadium towards the Kirk Cousins-led Vikings. It in the end led to a choice from the Giants to increase Jones long run, believing he had proved himself worthy of a brand new contract to stay the staff’s franchise quarterback.
That did not work out, nonetheless, because the Giants launched him this season earlier than they’d the chance to choose out of his deal. In the meantime, Saquon Barkley, who was franchise-tagged after Jones obtained his huge deal, is having an MVP season with the Philadelphia Eagles in his first 12 months after strolling in free company.Â
However whereas the Giants stew over their subsequent quarterback amid a horrible marketing campaign, Jones maybe has discovered new life in Minnesota.
“What’s to maintain DJ from being subsequent 12 months’s Baker Mayfield [or] Sam Darnold?” Rudolph mentioned.
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (AP Picture/John Munson)
“It’s an enormous purpose why he selected to go to Minnesota, realizing that there could be a chance for me sooner or later.”
For Darnold, he signed a one-year, prove-it take care of the Vikings this previous offseason, realizing it might be a quarterback competitors with rookie J.J. McCarthy, the staff’s first-rounder out of Michigan. However when McCarthy went down with a knee damage, Darnold knew he wanted to step up for the Vikings all season, not simply Week 1 when he gained the beginning job out of coaching camp.Â
He is completed simply that with an 11-2 document by means of 13 video games whereas placing up profession numbers. Keep in mind, it is a quarterback who flopped because the third general choose with the New York Jets, could not follow the Carolina Panthers and was in the identical function Jones is now with the San Francisco 49ers in 2023.
In the meantime, Mayfield was additionally in Carolina with Darnold after his tenure as the primary general choose and hopeful savior of the Cleveland Browns flamed out. Mayfield bounced across the NFL till the Bucs gave him the same deal in 2023 that Darnold has now. Mayfield not solely proved he might win in Tampa Bay – he beat the Eagles within the Wild Card Spherical on his dwelling turf, solidifying his function because the staff’s franchise quarterback – he obtained a three-year, $100 million extension to indicate for it.
Rudolph mentioned Darnold has earned that huge extension with extra video games nonetheless to play, and Jones might do the identical with the Vikings, a staff Rudolph would not assume would wish to spend huge bucks on Darnold, realizing that McCarthy is ready within the wings.
“In right now’s world, these younger quarterbacks don’t should play of their first two years,” Rudolph mentioned. “J.J.’s going by means of what he’s going by means of together with his knee damage, and in the end, sure, they’ll compete if DJ decides to remain there subsequent 12 months. He has an awesome alternative to exit, and it simply takes one 12 months.”
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (AP Picture/Lennart Preiss)
For now, although, Rudolph is aware of Jones is itching to get again on the sphere, however he is taking part in his function effectively in his first few weeks with Minnesota.
“I feel the largest problem for DJ is he’s all the time been the person. He was the sixth general choose and quarterback for the New York Giants,” Rudolph mentioned. “This previous Sunday, he watched the sport from the sidelines because the observe squad quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings. That’s not simple. As a competitor, I do know speaking to him, he was like, ‘Man, I simply felt ineffective standing there mainly watching a recreation.’ It’s a part of the method.”
GIVING BACK TO VETERANS
Rudolph obtained to observe Darnold & Co. acquire their Week 13 win over the Arizona Cardinals within the Twin Cities, the place he additionally stunned two Minnesota veterans with Polaris RZR Professional R autos throughout the Dec. 1 Salute to Service recreation.
Rudolph leveraged his fundraising platform, Alltroo, and teamed up with Polaris and Name of Responsibility for this particular shock.
“Two Minnesota native Marine Corps gents, they nearly felt like they had been undeserving of such an unimaginable honor as a result of they’re like, ‘There’s so many others who’ve completed what I’ve completed and deserve it greater than I do.’ They couldn’t imagine that they had been the 2 who had been chosen to obtain these Polaris RZRs,” Rudolph mentioned.
Newly acquired Minnesota Vikings quarterback Daniel Jones walks off the sphere after the sport towards the Arizona Cardinals at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. (Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photographs)
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The veterans additionally performed the brand-new “Name of Responsibility Black Ops 6” online game with Vikings defenders Pat Jones II and Ivan Tempo Jr.
And thru March 1, 2025, Rudolph mentioned soccer followers can enter at Alltroo for an opportunity to win a Polaris RZR Professional R by means of donations that profit Name of Responsibility Endowment, a program that helps place veterans in high-quality careers and helps veteran well-being.
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