By Matthew Coller
EAGAN — “You know who’s standing out in camp and preseason? Jeshaun Jones.”
How many times have we said that over the last three years?
Since signing as an undrafted free agent in 2024, the Minnesota Vikings’ wide receiver has become one of the stars of summer. Whether it was fighting for a depth role or bumping up to the first team when there were injuries or rest days, Jones caught footballs thrown in his direction. When it came to the preseason, he always showed up, grabbing 20 passes for 270 yards in the last three preseasons.
All three summers ended the same way: “Jeshaun Jones signs to Vikings practice squad.”
There was always someone ahead of him and some reason not to put him on the active roster. Whether it was trading for Adam Thielen in ‘25 or drafting Tai Felton or needing Myles Price as a returner or adding Jauan Jennings in free agency this year, the Vikings couldn’t quite get him to the 53-man roster.
His only appearance in an NFL game was Week 18 against the Packers when he saw seven snaps on special teams.
In Week 5, Jones’ grind behind the scenes finally was rewarded. With Jordan Addison banged up, he was active for the Vikings’ matchup against the New Orleans Saints. He was on the field as a wide receiver for exactly one passing play and everything broke right for him to be Kyler Murray’s target.
Murray got pressured and moved outside the pocket while keeping his eyes downfield. Jones realized that the play was being extended and ran to space. Murray threw the ball where only he could get it and Jones went up and grabbed the pass. It went down as a 32-yard gain. The drive ultimately resulted in the go-ahead touchdown for the Vikings and they never gave the lead back.
“It meant a lot, man, it meant a tremendous amount to me, honestly,” Jones told Purple Insider on Friday. “I didn't really think it would come at that time, and that made it a little bit cooler. The moment was amazing, though. Just getting that opportunity and this crazy, like, that was one of the plays I had gotten in practice throughout the week. And for it to turn into a scramble drill, and Kyler to find me down there, it was amazing. I'm so thankful for the opportunity…just working, grinding, and finally, getting to get out there on Sunday, and make a play to help my team, that all that matters to me.”
Jones also recovered a fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half that led to a Vikings touchdown.
When he got back to the locker room, his phone was exploding with messages.
“I remember as soon as I got in the locker room, I called my mom as soon as I got back to my locker and we both were excited, screaming on the phone,” Jones said. “Just happy, just because it's so much I’ve been through.”
The long road to his first NFL reception wasn’t just about the hundreds of practices and meetings without being rewarded, it also included a lot of adversity in college as well. Jones tore his ACL in one knee in 2019 as a sophomore at Maryland and tore the other in 2021. He battled back from those setbacks to finish his college career in 2023 with a 53-catch, 747-yard season, earning him an opportunity as a UDFA with the Vikings.
I asked Jones what kept him going through the injuries and uncertainty about whether he would see all the practice catches someday turn into a place forever in an NFL box score.
“That's just kind of who I am, man,” Jones said. “I've been through two major injuries in college, so I've had to sit back and not be able to play….I take advantage of every one of these opportunities, man. I love it…it's kind of who I am. I just keep my head down to work and just keep going.”
Nobody was happier for Jones than Tai Felton, who was with Jones at Maryland and has been influenced by his hard-work approach.
“He was my big bro [at Maryland] so I played with him damn near like my whole career and I’ve seen him come back from a couple injuries, I have seen him persevere and I always we always try to model my personality and the hard work after him,” Felton said. “Seeing that after seeing him grow so much, and then when I came in, he taught me how to be a professional football player, and him getting that chance to go make that play, it’s definitely huge. My family loves seeing it. He like family to me. So my family was screaming at the TV. My mom and them were excited for them.”
What Felton has appreciated most in terms of learning from Jones is the work that goes into practice. For Jones, practices have been his moment to show coaches that he can play and he’s put everything into those weekday afternoons at TCO Performance Center.
“Treating every day like a game, that's a regular Tuesday or a regular Wednesday or practice day, or Saturday walk through, he chases everything like a game,” Felton said.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has continued to bring Jones back and was pumped to give him a game ball following the 23-13 victory.
“The team, they respect him so much,” O’Connell said. “The worker he is, the amount of time that he’s poured into this organization, and hopefully he feels like we’ve done the same and helped him along his football journey. So now he can make plays when called upon. It’s a long season. Jeshaun is one of those guys you’re fortunate to feel like you have more so than just playing X or F or Z [positions]. He’s been a really good contributor in the kicking game when we can get him up as well.”
Now that the Vikings are back to full health, Jones will once again have to wait his turn. But his presence speaks to the unique depth that the Vikings have on the roster with a player that they’ve been able to develop over years who can step in and make a key play.
It also speaks to how much the right work ethic and attitude can pay off.
Great to see Jones getting some well-earned props. Nice story.
Was pretty cool to see his reaction after the catch on TV. Could tell it meant the world to him. Awesome that he got the fumble, too, so they could toss him a game ball.