DAILY CLIPS

MONDAY, AUGUST 27, 2018

LOCAL NEWS: Monday, August 27, 2018

Star Tribune

Vikings trade with Giants for center Brett Jones By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/zimmer-doesn-t-expect-elflein-to-start-season-on-pup-list/491752961/

Pat Elflein situation will not go away for the Vikings By Jim Souhan http://www.startribune.com/pat-elflein-situation-will-not-go-away-for-the-vikings/491768161/

An updated 53-man roster projection for the Vikings By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/an-updated-53-man-roster-projection-for-the-vikings/491789301/

Mike Hughes, Mackensie Alexander entrenched in battle to be Vikings' slot cornerback By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/mike-hughes-mackensie-alexander-entrenched-in-battle-to-be-vikings-slot-cornerback/491727471/

Vikings.com

Monday Morning Mailbag: Jones Acquisition, Sloter's Preseason Play, More By Mike Wobschall https://www.vikings.com/news/monday-morning-mailbag-jones-acquisition-sloter-s-preseason-play-more

5 Things to Know About New Vikings OL/C Brett Jones By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/5-things-to-know-about-new-vikings-ol-c-brett-jones

Presser Points: Zimmer Says Elflein Will Practice 'When He's Ready' But Timing Unknown By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/presser-points-zimmer-says-elflein-will-practice-when-he-s-ready-but-timing-unkn

VIKING UPDATE

Elflein not expected to practice this week By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Pat-Elflein-injury-continues-to-keep-him-out-121051762/

1500 ESPN

Smarts, drive and game tape: Inside the Vikings’ decision making with players on the bubble By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/08/smarts-drive-game-tape-inside-vikings-decision-making-players-fringe/

Pat Elflein’s uncertain status leads Vikings to acquire center from Giants By Judd Zulgad http://www.1500espn.com/news/2018/08/pat-elfleins-uncertain-status-leads-vikings-acquiring-veteran-center-giants/

Pat Elflein not expected to open season on PUP, but will he be ready for Week 1? By Judd Zulgad http://www.1500espn.com/news/2018/08/pat-elflein-not-expected-open-season-pup-will-ready-week-1/

Kyle Sloter has made a strong case to stick with the Vikings By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/08/kyle-sloter-made-strong-case-stick-vikings/

The Athletic

Vikings pick up some Pat Elflein injury insurance in trade for center Brett Jones By Chad Graff https://theathletic.com/490733/2018/08/26/vikings-trade-brett-jones-center-pat-elflein-offensive-line/

NATIONAL NEWS: Monday, August 27, 2018

ESPN

Pat Elflein to miss remainder of preseason; Vikings trade for Giants' Brett Jones By Courtney Cronin http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24482961/minnesota-vikings-center-pat-elflein-miss-remainder-preseason

NFL.com

Giants trade center Brett Jones to Vikings for '19 pick By Herbie Teope http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000951552/article/giants-trade-center-brett-jones-to-vikings-for-19-pick

USA TODAY

Vikings acquire center Brett Jones in trade with Giants By AP https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/08/26/vikings-acquire-center-brett-jones-in-trade-with-giants/37615189/

Vikings trade with Giants for center Brett Jones By Andrew Krammer With center Pat Elflein still on the physically-unable-to-perform list and left guard Nick Easton lost for the season, the Vikings made a deal on Sunday to give themselves another option in the middle of their line. They gave up a 2019 seventh-round draft pick for 27-year-old Brett Jones, a league source said. Jones, who must pass a physical exam before the trade is official, started 13 games for the New York Giants last year — 12 at center after Weston Richburg was lost to a concussion and one at left guard. The Canadian Football League product had been battling for the starting center job with Jon Halapio, who had started all three preseason games for the Giants. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Elflein is not likely to practice in the final week of the preseason, but Zimmer added he doesn’t think Elflein will need to begin the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Still, the addition of Jones gives the Vikings another option in case Elflein isn’t ready, or they need a versatile backup — and it doesn’t hurt that Jones has been playing for former Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, whose offense bears plenty of similar tenets to Minnesota’s scheme. Elflein, who had offseason ankle and shoulder surgeries, has been on the active PUP list through the Vikings’ offseason program, training camp and the preseason, as he continues to rehab from his offseason operations. That has kept him from doing any on-field work with new quarterback Kirk Cousins or practicing with an offensive line that will have two new starting guards this season. Zimmer said Elflein “is going to practice when he’s ready to go,” adding, “I don’t know when that’s going to be.” The Vikings will have to make a decision by Saturday afternoon about whether to put Elflein on the reserve PUP list for the beginning of the season or add him to their 53-man active roster. If Elflein starts the season on the PUP list, he would not be able to practice for the first six weeks of the regular season. Still the student Safety George Iloka still has his notes from his 2012 rookie season, when Zimmer first indoctrinated him into the NFL with Cincinnati. That has helped Iloka’s light-speed transition with the Vikings. Still, Zimmer said he’s trying to “change back” some of Iloka’s techniques that changed during their four years apart. “Things he’s taught me carried me through my career, even when he was gone,” Iloka said. “Sometimes almost bumping heads with other coaches, like, ‘No when we put this in — Zim said this.’ ” ‘Nice pass, nice catch’ Cornerback Xavier Rhodes turned to Sunday’s practice official, his palms to the sky, wondering how receiver Laquon Treadwell didn’t get called for offensive pass interference. No dice. Treadwell caught the deep ball over Rhodes from Cousins, showing another glimpse of the third-year receiver’s progression in the Vikings offense. “It was a nice pass, nice catch,” Rhodes said. “He’s coming around from his rookie year to now, running great routes coming out of his breaks.”

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 8/27/18

Backs progressing Running back Mike Boone leads the Vikings with 139 rushing yards this preseason. In turn, Boone is the leading candidate for the No. 3 running back spot heading into Thursday night’s preseason finale against the Titans. His competition is on the mend, as Roc Thomas returned to 11-on-11 drills during Sunday’s practice and looks in line to play. Mack Brown, who was limited Sunday, could also return to action Thursday. “He’s a guy that is really versatile,” Zimmer said of Boone. “Can catch the ball, has good feet and made some really good cuts. He continues to show pretty well.” Still sidelined Cornerbacks Mike Hughes, Mackensie Alexander and Marcus Sherels were among the nine Vikings players sidelined during Sunday’s practice. Hughes (undisclosed) and Alexander (ankle) haven’t practiced since the Aug. 18 preseason loss to Jacksonville. Sherels (hamstring) pulled up at the end of Friday’s win against the Seahawks and did not return to the game. Also held out were receivers Chad Beebe, Stacy Coley and Tarvarres King and linebacker Devante Downs (foot). Good news is defensive end Everson Griffen (left leg) did more in Sunday’s practice, even taking part in 11-on-11 drills with the defense. He should be ready to go for the Sept. 9 opener.

Pat Elflein situation will not go away for the Vikings By Jim Souhan The Vikings have added Kirk Cousins, Sheldon Richardson, Mike Hughes and George Iloka to a team that won 14 games last season. General Manager Rick Spielman had a good offseason, but the most important personnel decision for the Vikings might have been made by Joe Berger. Berger started 46 games at center or guard for the Vikings over the past three years. During a 12-year NFL career, he started 16 games in a season twice. The Vikings made the playoffs each time. Berger decided to retire after last season. Had he returned, he likely would have begun training camp as the starting left guard. Instead, Nick Easton was given a chance to win the job, and was lost for the season three weeks ago because of a neck injury. Sunday, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer announced in the morning that starting center Pat Elflein would not practice this week but said that Elflein wouldn’t necessarily start the season on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Maybe Elflein starts the season at center and is rusty. Maybe he is eased into action. Or maybe he does wind up on the PUP list. What’s certain is that Berger, had he been motivated to play, would have solved a major problem for the Vikings had he returned. At the very least, he might have saved the Vikings a seventh-round draft pick. Sunday afternoon, after they left the practice field, news broke that the Vikings had traded a seventh-rounder to the New York Giants for Brett Jones, who played 12 games at center last year. Whether the trade should cause or assuage worry about the offensive line remains to be seen. What we know is that the Vikings have to find a way to field a functional line, or a remarkably talented roster will be wasted. Before the Vikings signed Cousins, the best pure passer they had employed this decade was Sam Bradford. Combine arm talent, composure, intelligence and accuracy, and Bradford is an easy choice. If he could stay healthy, he might prove to be a better passer than Cousins himself. Of course, if he had stayed healthy, the Vikings may never have pursued Cousins. Bradford did not make the playoffs as a Vikings starter. In this decade, the quarterbacks who have taken Vikings teams to the playoffs are Christian Ponder, Teddy Bridgewater and Case Keenum. In 2008, they made the playoffs with a combination of Tarvaris Jackson and Gus Frerotte playing the position. Ponder was not a quality NFL quarterback. Bridgewater made the postseason before he had matured, or mastered the deep pass. Keenum took over for an injured Bradford and excelled for an outstanding team, but did not perform well enough in the playoffs for the Vikings to keep him instead of investing heavily in Cousins. Jackson was a backup miscast as a starter, as was Frerotte. This is an elaborate way of saying that as much as we obsess over quarterbacks, they are often at the mercy of those around them. Nick Foles beating Tom Brady in the Super Bowl is the ultimate example of this.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 8/27/18

A strong line helped a mediocre Vikings team to the playoffs, and Adrian Peterson to a 2,000-yard season against defenses intent on stopping him. A strong line helped Bridgewater and Peterson to the playoffs in 2015. A line decimated by injuries kept the Vikings from making the playoffs in 2016. A solid if unspectacular line helped the Vikings to 14 victories last year. Jones does not have the résumé of a savior. He lost a competition with Jon Halapio to be the Giants’ starting center this season. Last year, the Giants offensive line appeared to be a weakness as the team finished 21st in offensive yards and 26th in rushing yards. If Jones was acquired to provide depth behind Elflein, the Vikings line should be good enough to support a playoff team. If Jones is forced to start frequently, Berger’s retirement may trump Cousins’ signing as the most pivotal decision of the Vikings’ dramatic offseason.

An updated 53-man roster projection for the Vikings By Andrew Krammer Armed with three preseason games and an entire training camp of evaluations, here is the Star Tribune’s updated 53-man roster projection for the Vikings. (New additions, subtractions highlighted in bold) Quarterbacks (3) QB Kirk Cousins, QB Trevor Siemian, QB Kyle Sloter Waived: QB Peter Pujals Why: There’s no question Trevor Siemian remains the Vikings backup quarterback, according to head coach Mike Zimmer. But Kyle Sloter’s impressive night against the Seahawks, and my previous overlooking the Vikings had controlled at least three quarterbacks each of the last two years (the third QB on PUP each time), has led to this change in one man’s projection. Sloter, who had an up-and-down camp, remains entrenched as the No. 3 quarterback with promise. Running backs/fullback (4) RB Dalvin Cook, RB Latavius Murray, FB C.J. Ham and RB Mike Boone Waived: RB Mack Brown, RB Roc Thomas, FB Kobe McCrary, FB Luke McNitt Why: Boone heads into Thursday’s exhibition finale in Tenenssee with a leg up on the No. 3 running back job over Mack Brown and Roc Thomas — both sidelined by injuries since the Aug. 11 preseason opener. Thomas was back in full-team drills during Sunday’s practice and should be on the field in Nashville to push Boone for the roster spot. Receivers (5-6) WR Adam Thielen, WR Stefon Diggs, WR Laquon Treadwell, WR Kendall Wright, WR Brandon Zylstra, WR Chad Beebe Waived: WR Tavarres King, WR Korey Robertson, WR Stacy Coley, WR Jake Wieneke and WR Jeff Badet Suspended: WR Cayleb Jones Why: Beebe has downright impressed in both practices and preseason games, but that doesn’t mean he’s a lock. The murky bottom of the receiver depth chart could still feature Coley, the second-year promising talent. The Vikings think highly of Coley. The problem is he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. However, if the Vikings need an extra roster spot for an offensive lineman, they could waive a receiver to make room. Tight ends (3) TE Kyle Rudolph, TE David Morgan and TE Tyler Conklin Waived: TE Blake Bell, TE Tyler Hoppes Why: There are few skill-position reserves whom the Vikings have gotten longer looks at than Conklin, the rookie with 38 special teams reps in three preseason games. His hands have stood out in practices, and he’s the expected No. 3 tight end.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 8/27/18

Offensive linemen (9-10) LT Riley Reiff, LG Tom Compton, C Pat Elflein (PUP?), RG Mike Remmers, RT Rashod Hill, OT Brian O’Neill, OT Aviante Collins, G Danny Isidora, C/G Brett Jones and C Cornelius Edison Waived: G Colby Gossett, C J.P. Quinn, OT Storm Norton, OT Dieugot Joseph, C/G Josh Andrews, G Kaleb Johnson Why: The lingering question remains when will Pat Elflein be ready to practice, let alone play? Elflein isn’t expected to practice this week, according to Zimmer, making for a prolonged absence that continues as the Sept. 9 opener nears. If Elflein isn’t cleared by the medical staff before the end of the preseason, he’ll be out at least six weeks on the regular season PUP list (where he won’t count against the 53-man roster). The trade for center/guard Brett Jones on Sunday indicates the Vikings don’t expect Elflein to be ready for the regular season opener, at least. Defensive linemen (9) DE Everson Griffen, DE Danielle Hunter, DE Brian Robison, DE Stephen Weatherly, DE Tashawn Bower, NT Linval Joseph, DT Sheldon Richardson, DT Jaleel Johnson, DT Jalyn Holmes Waived: DL Ifeadi Odenigbo, NT David Parry, DE Ade Aruna, DT Curtis Cothran, DE Jonathan Wynn Why: The Vikings boast a lot of intriguing youngsters in the defensive line room, and it’s difficult to project Odenigbo getting waived. But the projection here stays the same with Weatherly and Bower poised to take over when Robison retires next spring. Odenigbo is a bit of a tweener after gaining weight to play defensive tackle, where the Vikings have since moved him back out to end after he starred there against the Jaguars. Linebackers (5) OLB Anthony Barr, LB Eric Kendricks, LB Ben Gedeon, OLB Eric Wilson and OLB Reshard Cliett Suspended: LB Kentrell Brothers Waived: LB Devante Downs, LB Garret Dooley, OLB Antwione Williams, OLB Mike Needham, OLB Brett Taylor Why: Will Williams take the final roster spot? Or can the Vikings settle with five linebackers until Brothers returns Week 5? Downs and Dooley have also received a lot of run on special teams during the preseason, meaning one of those two could make a case if they stand out in the third phases. Defensive backs (11) CB Xavier Rhodes, CB Trae Waynes, CB Mackensie Alexander, CB Terence Newman, CB Mike Hughes, CB Marcus Sherels, S Harrison Smith, S Andrew Sendejo, S Anthony Harris, S Jayron Kearse and S George Iloka Waived: CB Holton Hill, CB Horace Richardson, CB Trevon Mathis, CB Craig James, S Jack Tocho, S Tray Matthews Why: The Vikings find a way to keep 11 defensive backs, just like they did last year, with the August addition of Iloka to the group. Here, I’ve got them taking away one linebacker spot (with Brothers not counting due to a four-game suspension) to make room for five safeties. Specialists (3)

K Daniel Carlson, P Ryan Quigley, LS Kevin McDermott Released: K Kai Forbath Why: Forbath was cut after missing a 41-yard field goal against Jacksonville, then Carlson misses two 42-yard kicks against the Seahawks. The Vikings drafted Carlson to finally find stability at kicker, and the rookie had a rocky start as the new guy.

Mike Hughes, Mackensie Alexander entrenched in battle to be Vikings' slot cornerback By Andrew Krammer Mackensie Alexander raised his arms and pointed his index and middle fingers at his helmet. The move confirmed a check with linebacker Eric Kendricks before he turned to relay the call to outside cornerback Xavier Rhodes. He stood precisely 5 yards away from the Jaguars line of scrimmage, giving Alexander enough space to survey the offense’s formation and make an educated guess as to the route slot receiver Dede Westbrook might run on third-and-6. Wouldn’t you know Westbrook ran a 6-yard hook route, slipped and watched Alexander break on the ball with precision to nearly intercept Blake Bortles’ pass. The only problem was Alexander stumbled searching for the pass he tipped, twisting his left ankle on Kendricks’ foot. Alexander’s injury, followed eventually by an undisclosed injury to rookie corner Mike Hughes against the Jaguars, sets up one of the most intriguing puzzles for the Vikings defense heading into the Sept. 9 season opener against San Francisco. The third-year Alexander is expected to start, just as long as the promising Hughes doesn’t take his job at some point down the line. Behind them is the ultimate safety net in Terence Newman, the NFL’s oldest defender who has been a kind of coaching assistant for Mike Zimmer. As “the quarterback of the defense,” Alexander says, slot corner might be the most intellectually demanding in Zimmer’s defensive scheme. That’s why it’s so noteworthy Hughes, a rookie who didn’t play slot corner in college, quickly pushed for first-team reps in practice this month in between his playmaking preseason snaps. “I want to see how Hughes reacts,” Zimmer said after giving the rookie some first-team practice reps. “I want to see how Mackensie reacts.” Alexander responded by intercepting a Trevor Siemian pass with the second team. Then he nearly picked off Bortles’ throw during his only snap against the Jaguars on Aug. 18. Alexander and Hughes had their preseasons cut short, leaving Newman to handle the slot during Friday’s “dress rehearsal” exhibition against the Seahawks. Newman had some “rust” to knock off this month, Zimmer said, but his teaching tools are still sharp. Successfully defending the slot starts with the brain, which is why Newman continued to start games for last year’s No. 1 defense despite whatever the 39-year-old surrendered athletically. Alexander also needed time to mature. That time has come, the Vikings say. “You got to think more. You have to be more strategic,” Alexander said of playing the slot. “You have to know down and distances — a lot of it you’re basically the quarterback on defense. You have to know it’s more than just your skill set. You have to be able to think to play that slot spot.” Alexander has made an “amazing” leap in his third year, according to Newman. On his heels is Hughes, who recently received some rare praise from Zimmer — the defensive tactician known for his methodical approach with young corners. Hughes has impressed Vikings coaches with his dedication to the playbook, showing off lessons learned with few mental errors common among rookies.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 8/27/18

“Our secondary scheme is a lot of man [defense] within zones, so that’s the most difficult thing for these guys to do,” Zimmer said. “They have to do pass-offs, they have to carry, they have to work in and outs with linebackers and those kinds of things. And [Hughes] has done a really good job with that.” Above his “unbelievable” feet and quickness, Zimmer said, Hughes has gained on the depth chart with his intelligence. He took 22 preseason snaps in the slot against the Broncos and Jaguars, turning in a run stop, a quarterback hit and a forced incompletion when he shadowed Jags receiver Rashad Greene on a fade route. If Alexander’s ankle isn’t healed by Week 1, the Vikings might not have much reason to shelve Hughes in his first NFL regular-season game — a rare feat under Zimmer, especially for the mentally demanding slot position. “I mean, I’ve been running with the [first team] in college, in high school — running with the [first team] in the [NFL], it is a great honor,” Hughes said. “It’s just another time to work. Hopefully the coaches will start trusting me and put me out there a little faster than I thought I would be.”

Monday Morning Mailbag: Jones Acquisition, Sloter's Preseason Play, More By Mike Wobschall Any thoughts on this trade with the Giants for Brett Jones? Could the Vikings be setting themselves up to move Pat Elflein to an interior line position to strengthen the offensive line? -- Cris Wallace @CrisWallaceWG Jones is young (27), started 13 games last season for the Giants and he can play either guard or center. This is exactly the type of profile I believe GM Rick Spielman covets when he decides it’s time to trade for a player this time of year. The Giants inserted him into the lineup as their starting center in Week 5 last season, and they averaged 109.3 rushing yards per game for the final 12 games compared to 59.3 rushing yards per game for the first four contests. I’m not going to suggest Jones is the entire reason for that surge in production, but I bet he was a significant part of it. The Giants put a second-round tender on him this past March, so they obviously felt pretty strongly about him at that time. All signs point to Jones having a very good chance of helping the Vikings out quickly in 2018. Where exactly he will help out immediately or down the road remains to be seen, but it would surprise me if moving Elflein away from his natural position was in the cards at this point. Do you think Kyle Sloter still has a chance to be the backup quarterback or is it already a foregone conclusion that Trevor Siemian will be? -- Joel Montana Head coach Mike Zimmer quickly confirmed that Siemian was his backup when asked about it over the weekend, so the lack of equivocation from him on the matter tells me there’s a good chance Siemian will remain No. 2. There’s no question Sloter has gone out and impressed this preseason, and he should be given credit for that. Keep in mind, though, the level of competition for each player when they are taking turns in preseason games and also remember that Siemian has 24 regular season starts in this League while Sloter has none. It was good to see the Vikings win against Seattle and the play by Sloter to hit Chad Beebe was outstanding. However, the first-team offensive line struggled to give Kirk Cousins the time to stretch the field and we were back to lots of crossing routes and flares, while the ground game just did not look threatening. Add to that Daniel Carlson’s kicking performance and the same woes we have had for a number of years, inconsistent offensive line play and kicking, are rearing their heads yet again. Are we going to dink and dunk our way to the playoffs? -- Geoff Hansplant Abington, PA The Vikings starters compiled drives of 49, 95 and 64 yards that produced 13 1st downs and a touchdown, plus Cousins had three completion of 24 yards or longer, so I have to disagree with the assertion that the offensive line struggled to give Cousins time to stretch the field. There were some instances of pressure put on by Seattle while Cousins was in the game, but there were more instances in which Cousins had ample time to go through his progressions. A great example is on Latavius Murray’s 24-yard reception. Murray was the last read on the play and Cousins got to that read and still had plenty of time to step into the throw with no trash at his feet or hands in his face. The lack of downfield connection may have been

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 8/27/18

caused by a combination of other things, but a lack of protection did not seem to be one of them to me. As for Carlson, obviously it’s not a good thing to miss two field goals. But Carlson has been very solid all of camp and the preseason leading up to the Seattle game, so I will let his body of work speak for itself and, as Zimmer said he would, chalk up Friday night to a bad outing. On a scale of 1 to panic, how concerned should we be with our new kicker missing both field goal opportunities against the Seahawks considering he has no competition at this point and was indoors? -- Immanuel Mueller Janesville, MN Panicking certainly won’t help, so I wouldn’t do that. Carlson is a rookie and he is the Vikings kicker, so it’s a long road ahead for the young man and I’m willing to forgive him for a couple of misses in the preseason given how good he’s looked this summer and the potential he has. I love the opportunities the Vikings are going to have to win the field position battle with his kickoffs and tack on bonus field goals with his leg strength. Do you think with his absence from the preseason and the limited time he saw against Seattle, Brandon Zylstra still has a decent chance of making the team? It seemed like he was doing well in camp until he got injured. As a Concordia alum, I would love to see him get a chance; he's an excellent receiver. -- Corey Hyde Yes, I believe Zylstra has a decent chance of making the team. I won’t be surprised if he sees a lot of action in Nashville on Thursday night in the preseason finale and I also won’t be surprised if he looks good. His body of work going back to the beginning of Organized Team Activities has been very good. As is the case with my opinion on Carlson, the body of work dating back to April far outweighs concerns raised recently in a small sample size, such as missing two kicks in a preseason game or dealing with an injury the past two weeks.

5 Things to Know About New Vikings OL/C Brett Jones By Craig Peters EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings on Sunday announced a trade to acquire offensive lineman Brett Jones from the New York Giants in exchange for an undisclosed draft pick. The trade is pending Jones passing a physical exam. Jones has started 14 of the 30 games he’s played for the Giants in the past two seasons, including 13 of 16 in 2017. Here are five things to know about the new Vikings offensive lineman: 1. Manning the middle Jones started the final 12 games of the 2017 season at center for the Giants after Weston Richburg was injured. Jones played 966 snaps, which was third-most on the team behind Eli Manning and Ereck Flowers. After Richburg departed for San Francisco in free agency, Jones competed with Jon Halapio for the starting center role. The Giants started Halapio at center in their first three preseason games. Jones played 61 offensive snaps for New York this preseason. New York Giants offense, including center Brett Jones (69), set at the line of scrimmage during a NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, October 1, 2017 in Tampa. The Buccaneers won the game 25-23. (Paul Jasienski via AP) 2. Saskatchewan native Jones is from Weyburn, Saskatchewan, the 10th-largest city in the prairie province. He helped Weyburn Comprehensive School win 3A city championships in 2007-08 and the provincial 3A title in 2007. Jones was a co-captain in 2008. New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning (10) prepares for the snap from center Brett Jones (69) during a week 6 NFL football game against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2017 in Denver. New York won 23-10. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP) 3. College Athlete of the Year Jones attended the University of Regina in 2009 and was named the Male Athlete of the Year in 2011. He also was a four-time Academic All-Canadian honoree. In 2012, he was named the Canada West Outstanding Lineman (J.P. Metras Trophy) and Outstanding Student-Athlete (Russ Jackson Award). New York Giants center Brett Jones against the New England Patriots during the first half of an NFL preseason football game, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, in Foxborough, Mass. (AP Photo/Winslow Townson) Winslow Townson 4. CFL career Jones participated in the CFL Combine in Toronto in March 2013. He was drafted in the second round, 16th overall by the Calgary Stampeders that May, and was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Rookie

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 8/27/18

that season. Jones also won the Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman Award and helped the Stampeders win the Grey Cup in 2014. New York Giants guard Brett Jones (69) watches play against the Green Bay Packers during an NFL football NFC wildcard playoff game Jan. 8, 2017 in Green Bay, Wis. (Al Messerschmidt via AP) 5. Making the jump Jones transitioned to the NFL when he signed with the Giants in February 2015. His first season, however, ended in September when he was placed on injured reserve. Jones made his first NFL start at left guard for the Giants against the Bengals on Nov. 14, 2016.

Presser Points: Zimmer Says Elflein Will Practice 'When He's Ready' But Timing Unknown By Craig Peters EAGAN, Minn. — Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer on Sunday said he does not expect that Pat Elflein will practice this week. Zimmer was asked by media members if he thinks the second-year center will start the regular season on the Physically Unable to Perform List and said, “No, I don’t think so.” Elflein has been working his way back from an injury suffered in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 21. He opened training camp on the Active/PUP list. “Well, he’s going to practice when he’s ready to go,” Zimmer said. “I don’t know when that’s going to be.” In the meantime, Cornelius Edison has been filling in with the first-team in three preseason starts. The Vikings are scheduled to close their exhibition slate at Tennessee on Thursday. All NFL teams must reduce their rosters from 90 to 53 players by Saturday. Here are four other topics that Zimmer addressed on Sunday. 1. On the right side The Vikings started Mike Remmers at right guard and Rashod Hill at right tackle on Friday against the Seahawks. It was the first action in a 2018 preseason game for Remmers, who suffered an injury in training camp, and a return to the lineup for Hill, who was unable to play against Jacksonville. “Mike and Rashod were a little bit tentative but nothing bad,” Zimmer said. “They did fine, but it was just good to get them out there again.” The Vikings put together a 15-play drive that lasted 7:34 on their first possession. Minnesota then subbed Danny Isidora for Remmers and Aviante Collins for Hill on its second possession. Isidora and Collins helped the group drive 97 yards in 13 plays on that drive, which was capped with a 1-yard touchdown run by Latavius Murray. 2. Tell of the tape After reviewing Minnesota’s late 21-20 victory on tape, Zimmer said there are still areas in which the Vikings can improve. He mentioned not being happy with the way his team defended the run and also wanted to yield a little more on individual run plays. “There were a couple times when our pad levels got a little bit high, defensively. We didn’t play the trap very good,” Zimmer said. “Offensively, I would have liked to get more 4- and 5-yard runs as opposed to getting a bunch of 2s and 1s and things like that.

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 8/27/18

He also noted progress in a couple of areas of focus. “There were some good things, too,” Zimmer added. “For the most part I thought we covered pretty well, defensively. Offensively, we converted 7-of-10 first downs with the first group and then 3-for-3 in the red zone. Some things like that we’ve been working on that were good.” 3. In the running game Dalvin Cook made his much anticipated return to action on Friday, albeit in limited action. Cook netted 1 yard on two carries before he was replaced by Murray, who rushed 10 times for 24 yards and caught three passes for 32 yards. Undrafted rookie Mike Boone also got extended playing time against the Seahawks. Boone rushed nine times for 26 yards and caught four passes for 13 yards, continuing to show a broad skill set. “I think he’s doing well. He is a guy that is really versatile,” Zimmer said. “Can catch the ball, has good feet and made some really good cuts. He continues to show pretty well.” 4. Backup quarterbacks With starter Kirk Cousins playing the entire first half, backup Trevor Siemian played the third quarter and just into the fourth quarter before the Vikings brought in Kyle Sloter. Sloter was able to rally the Vikings with a pair of touchdown passes (1 yard to Jake Wieneke and 25 yards to Chad Beebe) and completed a 2-point conversion pass to Wieneke for the game winner with under a minute to go. Siemian was 4-of-8 passing for three yards and was sacked three times. Sloter completed 11 of 15 passes for 85 yards and was sacked once. Zimmer said there is no question with regard to the Cousins, Siemian, Sloter order on the depth chart, but he does think Siemian can play better. “The other night he didn’t play as well as he had in the past, so he has to improve some,” Zimmer said.

5 Observations from the Win Over Seattle By Tim Yotter The Minnesota Vikings aren’t expected to have their starting center back at practice this week, meaning Pat Elflein will miss the entire preseason. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he doesn’t expect Elflein to practice this week. He started training camp on the physically-unable-to-perform list, meaning he can come off that list at any time he is ready to practice. “He’s going to practice when he’s ready to go so I don’t know when that’s going to be,” Zimmer said. However, Zimmer said he doesn’t think Elflein will start the regular season on the PUP list. If that were to happen, Elflein wouldn’t be able to practice or play for at least the first six weeks of the regular season. Elflein has been spending time during practices either rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder, observing portions of practice or lifting weights. Elflein hasn’t practiced or played all offseason and preseason, meaning he hasn’t been able to work with new quarterback Kirk Cousins. “We don’t have one-on-one meetings after practice. If he has questions, he’ll ask me,” Cousins said. “The other day he said, ‘Hey, I saw in walk-through there was a rep where the safety was topping the nickel and you didn’t change the protection over there. What was the reason for that?’ We’ll talk about those kinds of things when they come up. But it’s not every play.” Cousins has been working behind a makeshift offensive line with different starting combinations throughout the preseason, but none of those have included Elflein. “I think he has enough reps now in the bank and we’ll get enough reps here in practice to be ready to go,” Cousins said. “I’ve played with probably three or four different centers last year in games. At any one moment, if a player goes down at center, you have to be ready to play with the next one. It is not ideal, but for Pat to just have to just jump in and go, that tends to be more the way NFL football works than to have had years with them. That is more a luxury than the norm.” With Elflein out at the start of training camp, Nick Easton was taking the first-team center reps. However, Easton went on injured reserve last week after having surgery to repair a herniated disc. Since then, Cornelius Edison has been given the first-team snaps at center. Cousins said it’s hard to know how much to take away from preseason games, especially without a stable offensive line – right guard Mike Remmers and right tackle Rashod Hill have also missed time, although they both played the first series on Saturday. “You have to learn from it and teach off of it. We are going to have injuries during the season,” Cousins said last week. “I was just watching the game I played in against Seattle last year. Four of our five starting offensive linemen were out at that point in the year. Unfortunately, you have to play with whoever is ready and you can’t use injuries as an excuse.”

PUBLICATION: VIKING UPDATE DATE: 8/27/18

PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 8/27/18

Smarts, drive and game tape: Inside the Vikings’ decision making with players on the bubble By Matthew Coller When it comes to player evaluation of young players, Mike Zimmer is well aware of the things that can be difficult to know right away. But he’s also knows what he’s looking for. During his time in Minnesota, the Vikings have gone from the 32nd ranked defense to the top of the NFL. Part of the reason is the team’s investment on the defensive side of the ball with draft picks (some of which came before Zimmer), but that’s only a percentage of the equation. Another major factor in the defense’s success has been Zimmer’s emphasis on drafting/signing/keeping players who have the mental capacity to understand and execute what he’s dialing up. So the Minnesota Vikings get closer to tough roster decisions and the club’s head coach and front office have to make assessments about a handful of players on the 90-man squad that are on the cusp of making the final 53-man roster or earning a gig on the practice squad, Zimmer will be focusing on parts of their makeup that go beyond skill. At the top of that list: Intelligence. Across the board, the defense is stacked with Pro Bowlers who are among the highest IQ players at their position — especially spots like safety, linebacker and nickel corner with coach-on-the-field Terence Newman. Each year at draft time, the Vikings attempt to find a new crop of drafted players and undrafted free agents who can handle the increasingly-complex NFL game. However, the Vikings’ head coach understands the challenge of assessing a player’s mental capacity at the draft or with undrafted rookies they sign as free agents. “It’s hard,” he said. “We have all the standard tests and we do a lot of things where we get them on the board and ask them questions and try to throw curveballs at them.” But in the lead up to final cuts, smarts isn’t simply graded on whether a player aced a pre-draft test or memorized plays or explained concepts on a white board, it’s whether he was able to comprehend the information and execute what’s being asked. “You really don’t know until you get a hold of them and have been with them,” Zimmer said. “Even sometimes with the rookies, you are really not sure because he is trying to learn everything. But once he gets it down for the most part and things happen, you can probably have a better idea.” When the team gets a player in the building for rookie minicamp, they get their first glimpse of how they apply information learned in meetings to the field. And then throughout Organized Team Activities, minicamp and training camp, the picture becomes clearer. But there is no hard-and-fast rule for determining a player’s smarts, even if he’s been in the facility for months. “Each guy is a little bit different, but typically you have to be around them for a little while,” Zimmer said. “A lot of it is being able to process on the move. The formation changes or the defense changes and a guy has to go from blocking this guy or blocking that guy. That is what I mean a lot of times by being smart. It takes a little while. We do all the tests before we draft them and all that. Sometimes testing and the draft and going on the field is a different thing.”

Zimmer was asked where intelligence ranks in the decision making process between players on the edge of making the team. “High,” he said. “We want intelligent players. Obviously, good players, but I think if it comes down to it and one guy is not smart and one guy is, we’ll probably go with the smart guy.” Another aspect of player evaluation that the Vikings obsess over — for good reason — is whether players truly love game. It sounds as cliche and cliche gets, but there’s few things more important to success than a player’s commitment and dedication to a sport which only plays 16-19 times per year and spends all the other days practicing and studying. The Vikings have both hit on a large number of dedicated players who haven’t been high draft picks. One obvious example is receiver Stefon Diggs — who was a fringe-roster player in 2015 when he was drafted in the fifth round and ended up signing a $70 million contract this summer. Quarterback Kirk Cousins said one of the things he noticed most about Diggs — and much the Vikings’ roster — is the large group of players with a football-obsessed mentality. “What I most like is that he loves football and loves to come and work, because as a quarterback, it can be miserable if you’re working with someone who really is just out here to get a paycheck and leave,” Cousins said following the announcement of Diggs’ new deal. “He wants to work, he’s excited to practice, he wants to compete, he loves the game, and he’s coachable. That whole part of his personality, is what makes up when I say it’s a great locker room and a great culture, it’s players like that carrying themselves in that way.” Zimmer said the team does everything it can in the scouting process to figure out which players will end up loving the NFL life. They do interviews, sometimes call former coaches and dig for any type of information they can. But things are just so much different in the pros than in college. “You think you do but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they love football,” Zimmer said. “They fool you sometimes too, but usually when they get out here it’s grinding, it’s hard and all that then maybe you find out that he doesn’t like it as much as some other guy.” That’s why the Vikings throw a lot of darts at the board. This year they might not have thought receiver Chad Beebe had great chance of making the 53-man roster when they signed him to a contract out of Northern Illinois. They saw something they liked and took a shot. Now it appears he will at least make the practice squad and possibly the roster. You may have heard by now that Adam Thielen came in on a tryout and turned himself into a star receiver. Vice president of player personnel/assistant general manager George Paton told 1500ESPN in 2016 that sometimes long-shot players who the team signs aren’t even given the stamp of approval by their college coaches, but find themselves a better fit for the NFL environment. “A lot of times these guys aren’t recommended by their college staffs,” Paton said. “Whether they don’t like them or character or they just don’t think they can play. Maybe someone takes a chance on them, they get better coaching or whatever. That’s why our college scouting staff does their due diligence and really grinds. “A guy might not play well on tape but he runs well or you see a redeeming trait that’s worth bringing him in, even though he may not be a great player.” Zimmer believes there is a ripple effect involved with building a team around smart, driven people in the locker room. Sometimes it helps those ya-never-know players succeed. Sometimes it pushes high draft

picks to reach their potential. When the Vikings drafted Dalvin Cook, for example, there were some concerns about his character. The team — not by mistake — put his locker next to Teddy Bridgewater, Terence Newman and Case Keenum. “Typically if you got a bunch of good guys in the locker room, these young guys will fall in,” Zimmer said. “We try to do a really good job of bringing the right type of guy in so we don’t have those type of issues. If we have those issues, we try to get rid of them.” That means if two players are battling for a job, the Vikings will lean toward the one who will positively impact others. Smarts and drive aren’t everything. In order to find a role on the Vikings’ active roster, players on the outskirts must step up when they get their opportunities in preseason games. For the starters, preseason is just a tune-up, for on-the-edge guys it’s extremely important. But Zimmer makes it clear that the team’s evaluation is a complete picture. What fans see in 16 quarters of preseason football is only a fraction of the team’s analysis. “The game tape is probably a little more important,” he said. “The practice tape you see every day, you’re making corrections, you’re talking the guys. But then the game tape is they go out there, their coach isn’t telling them what to do, they’re out there on their own and they’re playing and trying to make plays. I don’t get all caught up in ‘this guy had one good game and he’s had 10 crummy practices,’ that doesn’t really help. You just hope that he continues to get better. If everything is they’re pretty much doing the same then you look at the games and see where that takes them.” As the Vikings continue to sign players to big contracts and spend to the brink of the cap, there will be an even bigger need to get contributions from players who are under-the-radar finds and long-shot success stories. Part of that process is making the right decisions on the practice squad. While we might not think too much about the handful of players who make up the scout team, Thielen was once a practice-squader. There are many others who have turned into stars from the practice squad like linebacker James Harrison and running back Arian Foster. “Sometimes it’s where do we see this guy in a year from now or we just need another tight end because we don’t have enough to practice with,” Zimmer said. “It’s a little bit of both. What you prefer to do is to keep the guys with the high ceilings…but sometimes you only kept four defensive ends. We need to have another one there, so that’s part of it, too. Some of them get poached too.” By four o’clock next Saturday afternoon, the Vikings will have to make their final roster decisions. Tough calls will have to be made at nearly every position. So when the arguments are made for Player X or Player Y to stick around, you can bet that a lot more is going into the calls than just talent.

PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 8/27/18

Pat Elflein’s uncertain status leads Vikings to acquire center from Giants By Judd Zulgad Pat Elflein’s status for the Vikings’ season-opener on Sept. 9 against San Francisco remains uncertain and on Sunday the team took a step to find a replacement for the second-year center. Veteran Brett Jones was acquired from the New York Giants for an undisclosed (almost certainly late-round) draft pick. The completion of the trade is pending Jones passing a physical with the Vikings. The trade was announced hours after Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Elflein will not practice this week as Minnesota prepares for its final preseason game Thursday in Tennessee. Elflein has spent all of training camp on the physically unable to perform list, although Zimmer said he doesn’t believe Elflein will open the season on that list. That doesn’t provide any assurance that Elflein will be ready to start the season. He had offseason surgery on his shoulder and ankle — he fractured his left ankle in the NFC title game in Philadelphia — and could come off the PUP at any time during the preseason. If he were to be placed on the PUP to open the regular season, Elflein would have to sit out the first six weeks of the season. Jones, 27, gives the Vikings much-needed depth at both center and guard. Nick Easton, who had been expected to start at left guard, was lost for the season in camp following surgery to repair a bulging disk in his neck. Right guard Mike Remmers (ankle) returned for the opening series of Friday’s preseason game against Seattle but he had missed substantial time before that. Danny Isidora replaced Remmers after he departed Friday but struggled at times. Veteran Tom Compton has been starting at left guard but he was signed to be a backup. The Vikings’ immediate concern is the center position. Easton replaced Elflein to start camp but when Easton went out that forced No. 3 center Cornelius Edison into service. That was far from an ideal scenario for a Vikings line attempting to protect $84 million quarterback Kirk Cousins, who isn’t known for his mobility. It won’t be surprising if Jones immediately begins taking reps at center with the first-team offense. It’s likely Zimmer got a favorable scouting report on Jones from former Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who is now head coach of the Giants. Jones, who is due to make $2.9 million this season, was working with the Giants’ second-team offense. Signed by the Giants as a free agent in 2015 after spending two seasons with Calgary of the CFL, Jones played in 30 regular-season games for New York and made 14 starts (12 at center and two at left guard). Jones started 13 games in 2017. Jones is a native of Saskatchewan and attended Regina University. He helped Calgary to a Grey Cup title in 2014 and earned CFL All-Star honors that season. He also was named the CFL’s Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman in 2014.

PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 8/27/18

Pat Elflein not expected to open season on PUP, but will he be ready for Week 1? By Judd Zulgad Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Sunday he does not expect Pat Elflein to practice this week, but added he does not believe the center will open the season on the physically unable to perform list. “He’s going to practice when he’s ready to go,” Zimmer said Sunday. “I don’t know when that’s going to be.” Elflein has been on the PUP since training camp opened after undergoing surgery on his ankle and shoulder during the offseason. The Vikings will close the preseason on Thursday at Tennessee. Elflein is one of four Vikings offensive linemen who has missed time during training camp. The list includes right guard Nick Easton, who is out for the season; left guard Mike Remmers; and right tackle Rashod Hill. Remmers and Hill returned to play the first series in the Vikings’ win over Seattle on Friday night in their third preseason game. While Elflein almost certainly won’t begin the season on the PUP, that doesn’t mean he will play in the Sept. 9 regular-season opener against San Francisco. If the Vikings moved Elflein to the PUP to open the season, he would not be eligible to practice for the first six weeks of the regular season. A player who is on the PUP during training camp can be removed from that list at any point.

PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 8/27/18

Kyle Sloter has made a strong case to stick with the Vikings By Matthew Coller It was evident how much the Minnesota Vikings liked quarterback Kyle Sloter when they released a backup tight end to keep him on the active roster before last year’s playoff game against the New Orleans Saints. The 24-year-old quarterback, who was cut by the Denver Broncos last year despite a strong preseason, led a game-winning drive on Friday night to beat the Seattle Seahawks 21-20. The go-ahead score came on a bullet throw to Chad Beebe as Sloter was rolling to his left. “It was fun, there’s definitely things I can do better,” Sloter said. “Some of the setbacks were on me and I could have done better with those. The overall outcome of the game is awesome but I’m going to get back in the film room as soon as I can. I’m sure I’ll watch it before the night’s over and make the necessary corrections to come out here and be even better. Overall he couldn’t be much better this preseason. Sloter has gone 30-for-41 for 236 yards and three touchdowns, good for a 111.4 rating. He also rushed for a score against the Broncos. “I’ve had a unique opportunity to go out there with some guys who are in the same position as me and help lead some new guys that are coming into the NFL,” Sloter said. “It’s been cool. Not many people get put in a position to have the ball in the fourth quarter with a chance to go win the game.” Sloter’s performance this preseason is nearly identical to how he played with the Broncos last preseason when he was 31-for-43 with three touchdowns and zero interceptions. The former Norther Colorado quarterback has not always been as sharp in limited practice reps as he has been in games, which may affect the Vikings’ decision making, but the arm strength and athleticism that caught the front office’s eye has been on display during games. Sloter will have one more chance to shine as he will likely see a large number of snaps in the Vikings’ final preseason game against Tennessee.

PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 8/27/18

Vikings pick up some Pat Elflein injury insurance in trade for center Brett Jones By Chad Graff Amid increasing doubt over whether Pat Elflein will be ready for the season opener, the Vikings made a low-risk trade Sunday afternoon, bolstering their already-depleted offensive line by sending a 2019 seventh-round pick, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, to the New York Giants for Brett Jones. A few hours before the trade was completed, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer conceded that Elflein won’t practice this week as he continues to rehab from offseason shoulder and ankle surgeries. At the beginning of training camp, Zimmer was hopeful Elflein wouldn’t be on the physically unable to perform list for long. But with the final preseason game just four days away, that’s where Elflein remains as questions mount regarding his status. Zimmer said he doesn’t think Elflein will open the season on the PUP list, which would rule Elflein out for at least six games. But without Elflein in a single practice this preseason, the Vikings were inching toward their first game with Cornelius Edison as their starting center and few backup options behind him since Josh Andrews is hurt. Now, Jones comes in and is the likely starter upon his arrival. The Canadian began his pro career in the CFL where he was named the league’s most outstanding offensive lineman in 2014, part of what led to an NFL contract the following year. He didn’t appear in an NFL game, though, until 2016, and in 2017 became the Giants’ starting center. He started 12 games last season at center and one at guard. For the Giants, who are coached by Pat Shurmur, the offensive coordinator of the Vikings last season, the move frees up $2.9 million in cap space for a team that was already nearly at the cap. And besides, Jones wasn’t guaranteed the starting center job for the Giants as he battled with Jon Halapio in camp for that spot. “He’s one of my favorite guys and he’s going to a really good place,” Shurmur said. “With their situation in the offensive line, he’s going to have a chance to compete to maybe be their starter. I’m pretty familiar with their situation and he’s going to a very good place, so I’m happy for him, because he’s a real likeable guy. He works hard, he’s tough, and I feel like if he can’t be here – I tell the players all the time, we want you all to be here; if you can’t be here, we want you to be somewhere good, and that’s a good place.” For the Vikings, it gives them a center to take Elflein’s place until he’s healthy and offers depth they didn’t have once he does return. And the Vikings have plenty of cap space this season, entering Sunday with around $10 million of room, so they were able to take on Jones’ contract. The Vikings’ starting offensive line is now beginning to take shape after Mike Remmers and Rashod Hill returned from injuries to briefly play in the team’s third preseason game Friday night. If Elflein is indeed out for the season opener in two weeks, the team’s starting offensive line looks like this: Riley Reiff at left tackle, Tom Compton at left guard, Jones at center, Remmers at right guard and Hill at right tackle. That may not be what the Vikings envisioned when camp opened with a healthy Nick Easton and hopes Elflein would return soon. But Jones’ addition offers experience and depth they otherwise didn’t have. “Mike and Rashod were a little bit tentative but nothing bad,” Zimmer said of their performances Friday. “They did fine, but it was just good to get them out there again.”

PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 8/27/18

Pat Elflein to miss remainder of preseason; Vikings trade for Giants' Brett Jones By Courtney Cronin Minnesota Vikings center Pat Elflein will finish out the remainder of the preseason on the sideline. Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said the second-year player will not return to practice this week ahead of the team's final preseason game on Thursday. Elflein was placed on the preseason physically unable to perform list on July 25 and has remained there since. Elflein had two surgeries in the offseason after fracturing his left ankle in the NFC Championship Game and injuring his shoulder in Atlanta in December 2017. The center has been limited to working out with trainers in the weight room and on a rehab field over the past month. There was optimism earlier in the preseason that Elflein would be back at some point in August, but that has not panned out. "He's going to practice when he's ready to go," Zimmer said. "I don't know when that's going to be." A trade to bolster offensive line depth has felt inevitable for weeks. The Vikings executed one on Sunday, sending a 2019 pick to the New York Giants in exchange for center Brett Jones. The future pick is believed to be a seventh-rounder, according to ESPN's Jordan Raanan. Jones appeared in 30 games for the Giants and has 14 career starts: 12 at center and two at left guard. He spent training camp and the preseason primarily with the second-team offense. Jones was on the Giants' payroll for $2.9 million this year and was behind Jon Halapio at center. With Will Hernandez at left guard and Nate Solder at left tackle, everything left of center was solidified, making him a depth piece in New York. With an uncertain timetable for Elflein's return, Jones could compete to start in his place until the former Ohio State product returns. Cornelius Edison, formerly of the practice squad, has been filling in for Elflein since Nick Easton, the team's former backup center, went down with injury. Zimmer said he does not think Elflein is at risk for starting the regular season on the PUP list, which would require him to stay there for the first six weeks of the season. After that, a five-week window would open in which Elflein would be allowed to begin practicing again. From the day he returns to practice, the Vikings would have a 21-day window to decide whether to activate him to the 53-man roster. It's a situation the Vikings found themselves in with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in 2017, who started the regular season on the PUP list and was eventually moved to the active roster for Minnesota's Week 10 win in Washington. Injuries have affected Minnesota's offensive line throughout the preseason. In addition to Elflein's prolonged absence, the Vikings lost left guard Easton for the season after he underwent surgery to repair a bulging disc in his neck. Right guard Mike Remmers saw his first preseason action against Seattle after injuring his left ankle during the team's fourth practice in training camp.

PUBLICATION: NFL.com DATE: 8/27/18

Giants trade center Brett Jones to Vikings for '19 pick By Herbie Teope The New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings were trade partners Sunday afternoon. The Giants sent center Brett Jones to the Vikings in exchange for a 2019 draft pick, both teams announced. While the Giants and Vikings did not disclose the specific draft selection, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reports it is a seventh-round pick. Jones, who appeared in 16 games with 13 starts for the Giants in 2017, provides immediate help to the Vikings' offensive line when considering center Pat Elflein continues to recover from offseason surgeries. With Jones no longer on New York's roster, the Giants are likely to turn to Jon Halapio as the starting center with the versatile John Greco in reserve.

PUBLICATION: USA TODAY DATE: 8/27/18

Vikings acquire center Brett Jones in trade with Giants By AP MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings, who are running out of time before the regular season begins for rehabilitating center Pat Elflein to return, took a step toward protecting themselves by acquiring center Brett Jones in a trade with the New York Giants for a draft pick. The deal, which is contingent on Jones passing a physical exam, was announced on Sunday. The Vikings didn't disclose the selection, but NFL Media reported it's a seventh-round choice in 2019. The trade was made hours after coach Mike Zimmer said Elflein would not be ready to practice with the team this week, with the second-year starter still working his way back from offseason surgeries on his ankle and shoulder. "He's going to practice when he's ready to go," Zimmer said. "I don't know when that's going to be." Elflein was placed on the physically unable to perform list at the start of training camp, but Zimmer said he didn't believe Elflein would land on the reserve PUP list next weekend when 53-man rosters must be established around the league. In that case, a player must sit out the first six weeks before he can resume practicing or playing. Elflein was a third-round draft pick out of Ohio State last year. Cornelius Edison has taken his place with the first-team offense for now. Nick Easton took the spot when camp began, but he was diagnosed with a herniated disk in his neck and scheduled for season-ending surgery. That injury hit doubly hard, because Easton was in line to start at left guard for a second straight year. Conveniently, Jones made his first career NFL start for the Giants at left guard in 2016. The 6-foot-2, 312-pound Jones started 13 games for the Giants last season at center, but he fell behind Jon Halapio on the depth chart in training camp . John Greco has played well enough to gain the team's trust as the backup. So the Giants, who are tight against the cap, dealt Jones and his $2.914 million salary to the Vikings. "He's one of my favorite guys, and he's going to a really good place," said Giants head coach Pat Shurmur, who was the offensive coordinator for the Vikings last year. "With their situation in the offensive line, he's going to have a chance to compete to maybe be their starter." Jones was actually pulled off the practice field on Sunday when the trade was made. "We're going to make decisions based on what's best for our team," Shurmur said. "I like all the players that we have out here, and I want them all to have success." Jones, a native of Canada who attended Regina University in Saskatchewan, was the CFL's Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman award winner in 2014, his second season with the Calgary Stampeders. He signed with the Giants in 2015.