The San Francisco 49ers released cornerback Jack Jones on Wednesday, a move tied directly to the team’s trade to bring back veteran defensive lineman DeForest Buckner.
San Francisco sent a 2027 fourth-round pick to the Indianapolis Colts on Tuesday to reacquire Buckner, six years after trading him away to Indianapolis. To fit Buckner onto the roster, the team needed to clear a spot, and Jones was let go after seven games with the club.
The release came days after a rough performance in San Francisco’s 29-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, a result that snapped the team’s unbeaten start to the season. Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. targeted Jones repeatedly, beating him in coverage several times. Jones also drew a pass-interference penalty that helped extend an Atlanta scoring drive.
Over his seven games with San Francisco, Jones recorded 11 tackles and three passes defensed but never earned a starting role. That marked a sharp decline from his 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins, where he started 17 games and posted 77 tackles, six passes defensed and an interception before signing a one-year deal with the 49ers in April.
Jones had looked sharp with San Francisco’s second-team defense during training camp, but a hand injury cut short his preseason debut against the Tennessee Titans.
San Francisco was Jones’ fourth NFL team in five seasons. A fourth-round pick by the New England Patriots in 2022, Jones intercepted two passes as a rookie, including one returned for a touchdown. His time in New England ended in November 2023 following a team suspension and back-to-back benchings. He then played for the Las Vegas Raiders and the Dolphins, totaling eight career interceptions, four of which he returned for touchdowns.
Buckner rejoins a 49ers team sitting at 6-1 but dealing with injuries to key players, including Nick Bosa and Mike Evans, as the franchise weighs further roster moves ahead of the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline.
San Francisco comes off its bye week to host the Raiders on Nov. 8, two days before that deadline.
