Overview
- The NFL announced Tuesday that Jones will miss the first three regular-season games for violating the league's substances-of-abuse policy.
- The suspension begins on Aug. 30, is without pay, and Jones is eligible to return on Sept. 28 while he may take part in remaining preseason activities until the suspension starts.
- Because of a 2024 policy change, the Vikings were not told which specific substance triggered the positive test, only that Jones violated the substances-of-abuse rules.
- Jones, an undrafted 2024 signing who has spent most of 2024–25 on the practice squad and has one regular-season appearance, had shown progress in camp and the preseason before the suspension.
- The timing raises a likely roster outcome in which the Vikings could cut Jones at the Aug. 30 roster deadline and potentially re-sign him to the practice squad when he is eligible to return, since suspended players on the reserve/suspended list do not count toward the 53-man roster.