If the Minnesota Vikings acquire a quarterback at the 2026 NFL trade deadline, it’s not going to be Indianapolis Colts‘ Daniel Jones.
NFL insider Tom Pelissero reported Sunday evening the Colts do not plan to trade Jones to the Vikings or any other team. The league’s trade deadline is Tuesday, November 10 at 4 pm ET.
“The Colts informed QB Daniel Jones on Saturday they’re not trading him by Tuesday’s deadline,” wrote Pelissero on X.
“Teams called and the Colts listened. But they never had any intention of moving him. Despite speculation, Jones is staying in Indy.”
With Kyler Murray playing poorly and ruled out in Week 9 because of a hamstring injury, pundits have linked the Vikings to Jones significantly over the past week.
Minnesota will start Carson Wentz behind center Monday night against the Buffalo Bills.
Vikings Won’t Be Able to Acquire QB Daniel Jones on NFL Trade Market: Report
Trades in the NFL can often be a fluid situation. But Pelissero’s update was about as definitive as one could get before a trade deadline.
If the Colts told Jones they aren’t trading him just 72 hours before the deadline, then there’s probably little hope of the Vikings changing their mind.
Jones hasn’t played particularly well this season. After Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys, he fell to 2-7 as a starter this year.
But Jones was one of Minnesota’s better options for a mid-season quarterback upgrade before the 2026 deadline. The Vikings are potentially in the quarterback market because their signal-callers have a combined eight touchdown passes and an average of 6.7 yards per pass in seven games this season.
Murray has struggled during his first year in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Murray has five touchdown passes versus three interceptions in six contests. Wentz’s numbers are superior but in a smaller sample.
Wentz will get another opportunity Monday night with Murray sidelined.
NFL insider Mike Florio argued Saturday that if Wentz doesn’t play well that the Vikings should execute a trade for a quarterback Tuesday. Florio then argued, at that time, that Jones was the best option.
Jones has 1,722 passing yards with six touchdowns and 10 interceptions in nine games this season.
What Other Quarterbacks Could Vikings Target at Trade Deadline?
Jones off the table hurts the Vikings’s chances of landing a new signal-caller. But it doesn’t completely kill them.
The Vikings could turn their attention to a Kirk Cousins reunion. Cousins is playing well for the Las Vegas Raiders this season, but the team is falling out of contention and might prefer to start playing No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza soon.
Cousins obviously knows O’Connell’s system. The question is how both sides would feel about a reunion.
Veteran quarterback Geno Smith is another option. Smith has 12 touchdowns and three interceptions with a 2-7 New York Jets squad this season.
But similar to Jones before Pelissero’s report Sunday night, it’s unclear if any of those quarterbacks are actually on the trade block.
Vikings Get Final Answer on Potential Daniel Jones Trade: Report