The Minnesota Vikings, who are running out of time before the regular season begins for rehabilitating center Pat Elflein to return, took a step toward protecting themselves by acquiring center Brett Jones in a trade with the New York Giants for a draft pick.
The deal, which is contingent on Jones passing a physical exam, was announced on Sunday. The Vikings didn’t disclose the selection, but NFL Media reported it’s a seventh-round choice in 2019.
The trade was made hours after coach Mike Zimmer said Elflein would not be ready to practice with the team this week, with the second-year starter still working his way back from offseason surgeries on his ankle and shoulder.
Elflein was a third-round draft pick out of Ohio State last year. Cornelius Edison has taken his place with the first-team offense for now. Nick Easton took the spot when camp began, but he was diagnosed with a herniated disk in his neck and scheduled for season-ending surgery. That injury hit doubly hard, because Easton was in line to start at left guard for a second straight year.
Conveniently, Jones made his first career NFL start for the Giants at left guard in 2016. The 6-foot-2, 312-pound Jones started 13 games for the Giants last season at center, but he fell behind Jon Halapio on the depth chart in training camp .
