Dark Horse WR Creating Buzz at Vikings Camp
Training camp is the forum for breakout stars and big, starry-eyed plans for almost every young player on a roster. The 2025 Minnesota Vikings are no different.
A relatively unknown Vikings wide receiver is making noise during training camp and could steal a spot on the final roster if this momentum keeps building.
So when wide receiver Jeshaun Jones received a little praise this week, fans took notice.
The Vikings have a thick WR room at the moment, and Jones will hope to latch onto the regular season roster in about one month.
Drum Banged for Jeshaun Jones
The young Vikings wideout is turning heads — again — in Eagan.
Jeshaun Jones Is Doing the Thing at Vikings Training Camp
Vikings training camp is one week old, and according to The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis, Jones has pressed all the right buttons so far.
He explained, “The undrafted receiver to monitor: Wide receivers Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton are shoo-ins to make the team. Behind them, it’s anyone’s guess.”
“Rondale Moore and Tim Jones are more experienced, but one name to keep an eye on is second-year player Jeshaun Jones. The Maryland product impressed during training camp last year. Minnesota kept him on the practice squad, and he took advantage.”
Jones is no stranger to the summer hype train.
Lewis concluded, “The most significant change for him between this year and last? Competition for roster spots will be fierce, and they may hinge on special teams. Undrafted receiver Silas Bolden has an edge as a returner, but Jones’ route-running ability (especially for a room that may lose Jordan Addison for part of the early season) could be significant.”
Preseason Production
Jones turned heads last year, too.
He posted some serious preseason production, including a 71-yard touchdown connection with former MIN quarterback Jaren Hall. The Maryland alumnus — where Stefon Diggs went to school — is the type of player or “sleeper” whom fans identify in July and August and hope the man has the juice to make it to September.
He’s similar to former Minnesota wideout Trishton Jackson in that regard. To date, though, Jones has not appeared in a regular season game, despite sweet preseason highlights, relegated to the practice squad more often than not when the regular season begins.
WR6 on the Summer Depth Chart in 2024
Before the first preseason game every August, Minnesota drops an official-but-unofficial depth chart. When the club did so in August 2024, Jones found himself in WR6 territory, which turned heads because he could’ve reasonably been listed as WR10 — an unknown undrafted free agent. WR6 is noteworthy in summer discussions.
Keep an eye on the first depth chart release next week and Jones’ placement. If 2024 was a reasonable indicator, he’ll light up in the sky during the exhibition games, starting on August 9 versus the New England Patriots. It’s what he does.
All the Vikings WRs Right Now
This is the WR pecking order right now in the Twin Cities:
— Justin Jefferson
— Jordan Addison
— Jalen Nailor
— Tai Felton
— Rondale Moore
— Silas Bolden
— Tim Jones
— Thayer Thomas
— Lucky Jackson
— Jeshaun Jones
— Dontae Fleming
— Robert Lewis
— Myles Price
Jones will cross his fingers and hope to earn a spot right next to Rondale Moore on that list. The bubble cut-off could be Jones or Silas Bolden.
Janik Eckardt on Jones
Our own Janik Eckardt wrote about Jones last summer when the wideout was basically in the same roster position: “His college journey at the University of Maryland was quite difficult. He scored seven touchdowns from scrimmage and one passing score as a true freshman in 2018, looking like the next big thing.”
“The expectations were high for him entering his sophomore season, but a torn ACL forced him to sit out the entire 2019 campaign. In the shortened COVID-19 season, he played in only four games, and a second torn ACL followed in 2021. Jones stayed healthy in his last two college seasons, scoring four touchdowns each year and tabulating 557 and 790 receiving yards, respectively.”
Until proven otherwise, Jones should be considered a dark horse to make the 53-man roster as a WR5 or WR6.
Eckardt added, “He undoubtedly has some talent, and he was a frequent target (five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown) in the preseason, showcasing his ability to get open. The problem? He also repeatedly dropped passes, three to be exact.”
“It should be noted, though, that the Vikings usually have around 10 or 12 wide receivers on the team when the number of players rises to 90, and the competition will be harder than it appears now.”
Jones will turn 26 in December. He might have to hope that a veteran like Rondale Moore or Tim Jones gets released next month to earn a spot on the regular season roster.
You must be logged in to post a comment.