### Daniel Jones Joins Minnesota Vikings Practice Squad, Aims for Career Revival

The Minnesota Vikings strengthened their quarterback ranks on Wednesday by adding Daniel Jones, the former New York Giants QB, to their practice squad. Jones, who recently struggled after securing a four-year, $160 million deal with the Giants, has set his sights on a fresh start under head coach Kevin O'Connell.

Jones' tenure with the Giants was marred by a torn ACL injury in November 2023, causing him to miss the tail end of that season. Consequently, the Giants released him last week following a disappointing 2-9 start to the 2024 season.

In Minnesota, Jones finds himself in a new environment with the potential to become the backup to current starter Sam Darnold for the remainder of the season. This arrangement is a stepping stone as the Vikings groom their 1st-round draft pick, JJ McCarthy, to take over as the starting quarterback next year.

Darnold expressed his excitement at Jones joining the team, emphasizing the value of his experience. "I've spent some time with him in the past. Great guy. He's played a lot of football, so just to be able to draw from his experience in certain things is going to help this football team," Darnold said during a media interaction on Wednesday.

Jones will now have the advantage of working with an impressive array of offensive weapons, including standout receiver Justin Jefferson, promising rookie Jordan Addison, and reliable tight end T.J. Hockenson. The support system in Minnesota is in stark contrast to what he had in New York.

Vikings' star receiver Justin Jefferson welcomed Jones with open arms. "We’re always excited to get somebody new into this building, regardless of the history or things they’ve done in the past," Jefferson remarked. He highlighted Sam Darnold's resurgence with the Vikings as a hopeful parallel for Jones' potential to thrive. "You can't just let the past be everything and tell the story. I want him to come here and be relaxed, let the past be the past... hopefully this building is a great building for him to come in."

As Jones joins the Vikings, he and the team look forward to a productive partnership that could revive his NFL career and enhance Minnesota's depth at the quarterback position.