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Former New York Giants center Brett Jones got the first start of his Minnesota Vikings career Thursday night. But not at center, at left guard.
Jones played nearly every snap for the Vikings offense (62 snaps, 89 percent of the offensive snaps), lining up at left guard in the first half before moving to center in the second half.
As should be unsurprising to Giants’ fans, the early returns on Jones’ play have been very positive.
New #Vikings OL Brett Jones showed his versatility taking snaps at LG and C last night.
— VikingNations (@VikingNations) August 31, 2018
Jones was consistent, driving his man off the line, and redirecting the pressure away from the ball. Definitely worth the 7th round pick.#SKOL
You could’ve told me #61 lastnight was Joe Berger and I would’ve believed you. Brett Jones was excellent in his Vikings debut.
— J Reid (@JReidNFL) August 31, 2018
Brett Jones played 62 snaps on Thursday night; the Vikings started him at left guard before switching him to center in the second half. Danny Isidora (57 snaps) started at center; Trevor Siemian said after the game there were no bad exchanges or miscommunications between the two.
— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingStrib) August 31, 2018
Jones started much of 2017 at center for the Giants, and played well enough for the team to let Weston Richburg leave via free agency. However, the team found itself enamored with Jon Halapio at center and made the decision to trade Jones for a seventh round pick and cap relief.
Time will tell whether Halapio can play as well as Jones did in 2017, or whether the Vikings got a steal with a starting lineman for just a seventh-round pick.
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