The Vikings have released defensive lineman Datone Jones from injured reserve after reaching an injury settlement, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Jones, a former first-round pick of the Packers, signed with the Vikings in the spring, presumably with the hope that a shift to a 4-3 defense would allow him to flourish. Expected to play three-technique and end, Jones simply never stood out, and head coach Mike Zimmer admitted in late August that Jones wasn’t a roster lock. Ultimately, Minnesota went with other options — such as undrafted rookie Tashawn Bower — over Jones.
The 27-year-old Jones, who’s posted nine sacks over four NFL seasons, inked a one-year, $3.75MM deal to join the Vikings. While he won’t collect that entire total, Jones will take home at least $1.838MM for his short stay in Minnesota, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets.