1 Vikings Playmaker in Danger of Getting Shuffled to the Shelf
The headlines around the Vikings playmakers are plentiful. There’s the chance of a Justin Jefferson trade alongside the waiving of Adam Thielen. What of Mr. Aaron Jones?
The RB1 is still a great runner, one who packs an unusual amount of power inside his smaller frame. Added onto the rushing ability is quietly being one of the NFL’s best pass catchers and then being a sturdy pass blocker. Clearly, Mr. Jones is someone of great ability (we’re not even considering his second-to-none leadership). Is he going to hit the shelf due to his latest injury?
Vikings Playmaker Aaron Jones Hurt Yet Again
After the game, a depleted Kevin O’Connell stepped in front of the media.
As per usual, Coach O’Connell took some time to clarify the injury updates. Ryan Kelly got mentioned since the starting center got put on the sideline due to a hip injury. Not long afterwards, there was the brief word about Jones: “Aaron Jones, aggravated his shoulder a little bit. He’s going to be evaluated.”
Other players got mentioned — Jonathan Greenard, Josh Metellus, and Jordan Mason — but they’re a non-issue. O’Connell’s final injury thought: “Kelly and Jones would be the names that we’ll be evaluating.” Within the process of evaluation is the unsaid possibility of needing to shuffle a player to the shelf, giving him time off to recover.
Jones has only been able to play in eight games. An earlier trip to the IR meant missing the minimum of four contests. The season has involved carrying the ball 67 times for 300 rushing yards (4.5 average) for 1 touchdown. Plus, Jones has caught the ball 20 times for 150 yards (7.5 average) and 1 touchdown.
Fantasy football owners have been disappointed. Truth be told, the Vikings likely are, as well.
Signed to a two-year contract for $20 million, Jones has been like a lot of players on Minnesota’s roster: fine rather than great. One could persuasively argue that Jones played excellent football in 2024. Not so in 2025. The runner (and pass catcher) has been solid but not much more.
Some of that is due to Kevin O’Connell too easily abandoning the running game; some of that is due to a less healthy Jones; some of that is due to a less efficient RB1; and so on.
The question now becomes where this thing is going as it relates to availability.
The Vikings aren’t going to make the playoffs in 2025. At best, Minnesota earns a selection for the 2026 NFL Draft. The icing on the cake for the team and its fans will be seeing the Vikings playing spoiler to division rivals, toppling the Packers and/or Lions to ruin their chances of moving through the NFC playoffs.
Oh, and some growth from J.J. McCarthy. Now that would be a massive win within the season that has had very few.
Within that goal, Aaron Jones can help. The veteran running back can be part of the winning formula for Mr. McCarthy. Jones helps to keep the defense honest since he’s so versatile, so capable of doing essentially anything on the field. If he can go, then let Jones go.
But then there’s the reality of dealing with a 31-year-old runner (as of tomorrow). With there being zero chance of a promising season in 2025, the Vikings need to shift the emphasis toward the 2026 season. Would keeping some miles off the odometer make more sense?
Leaning on Jordan Mason alongside Zavier Scott could be the way forward. Learning more about what these two can and can’t do will only help in what appears to be an upcoming offseason that will feature more than a few difficult decisions.
Of course, there’s the possibility that the decision gets taken away. Maybe the injury is so bad that there’s no decision but to sit the runner, allowing him to spend the rest of the year in the infirmary. The simple fact that Jones was questionable, though, would suggest that the injury wasn’t obviously serious. Minnesota will thus need to decide how to proceed.
On Monday around noon, Coach O’Connell described Jones as day to day.
If the Vikings decide to move on in the offseason, Aaron Jones will leave behind $6.8 million in dead money. More likely is that he’ll stick around, possibly getting bumped down to RB2.
Next up for the Vikings is a Week 14 Commanders game at U.S. Bank Stadium.
