The Minnesota Vikings officially announced the signing of veteran quarterback Jones and rookie edge rusher Gabriel Murphy to their practice squad on Friday, just days after Murphy was released by the team. Jones brings 70 games of NFL experience, having completed 64.1% of his passes for 14,582 yards, 70 touchdowns, and 47 interceptions.
He will look to revitalize his career with the Vikings, following in the footsteps of Sam Darnold, who has seen a resurgence this season. Meanwhile, Murphy has yet to appear in an NFL game, as he had been on injured reserve until earlier this week.
To make room for Jones and Murphy on the practice squad, the Vikings were required to release two players: veteran tight end Robert Tonyan and offensive tackle Julian Pearl. Pearl, who never appeared in a game for the Vikings after joining the team this season, was let go, while Tonyan, who had played in five games, was also released.
Daniel Jones
Tonyan, a former Chicago Bear and Green Bay Packer, showed promise in training camp and was frequently active early in the season as T.J. Hockenson recovered from ACL surgery. However, despite his early involvement, Tonyan was rarely used on offense, playing just 15 snaps across five games and failing to record a catch.
With Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Johnny Mundt, and Nick Muse all healthy and available, Tonyan’s role had diminished, making his release a logical move.
While he had been a useful depth piece earlier in the season, the Vikings now have a full complement of tight ends, leaving little room for Tonyan. The roster shakeup reflects Minnesota’s efforts to bolster the team’s depth in other areas while moving on from players whose roles had become limited.
