The Minnesota Vikings and their need for prowess in the run game has been a major topic of discussion around the NFL in recent weeks, and the team just got a big piece of news in that regard.
Running back Aaron Jones Sr., who was the team’s primary rusher and pass-catcher out of the backfield for four games between Weeks 2-5 while Jordan Mason sat with a thumb fracture, re-aggravated an existing MCL sprain in his knee during the Vikings’ win over the Indianapolis Colts last week.
Jones’ status for Minnesota’s upcoming showdown with the Detroit Lions at Ford Field has been in question for the last several days because of the knee issue. However, on Friday, October 30, head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that Jones will be a full-go in Detroit on Sunday. And that wasn’t the only bit of positive injury news for the Vikings.
“Aaron Jones, Joe Huber, and Gavin Bartholomew are off the injury report and good to go for Sunday, per Kevin O’Connell,” Will Ragatz reported via X. “Depth safety Jay Ward is questionable.”
Vikings Must Improve Run Game to Prop Up Struggling Pass Attack
O’Connell addressed the team’s offensive struggles in a roundabout way earlier this week while discussing the Vikings’ inability to maximize the talent of wide receiver Justin Jefferson through the run game.
“He’s our best player, and we’ve got to find a way to continue to activate him,” O’Connell said of Jefferson. “We just haven’t really see teams say, ‘You know what? We’re gonna get that eighth defender around the line of scrimmage with so much conviction that we’re willing to allow [Jefferson] to have one-on-ones.’ When he’s had them, he’s won.”
Having Mason back healthy alongside Jones affords the Vikings the two-headed offensive backfield they envisioned coming into the season, but it has not necessarily been a dynamic duo.
Vikings Continue to Make Sense as Landing Spot for Colts RB Jonathan Taylor Ahead of Trade Deadline
Jones was nothing short of heroic over the month that Mason was out, carrying a workload that equalled nearly 25 touches per game despite his injury history and playing in his age-32 season — through an MCL sprain for part of that stretch, no less.
Hence the discussion that persists around a trade for Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor.
Indy has already traded away two high-level players in offensive guard Quenton Nelson (Seattle Seahawks) and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner (San Francisco 49ers). The Colts let go of Nelson for a third-round pick and a fifth-rounder, while Buckner brought back a fourth-round selection.
Taylor can likely fetch a second-round pick, which is probably worth it to Minnesota given the Vikings are the NFL’s last undefeated team and have a championship-caliber defense to match one of the best groupings of special teams talent in the league.
Beyond a Super Bowl run this year, Taylor can help the Vikings moving into the future. The three-time Pro Bowl RB is under contract through 2028, while both Jones and Mason will be free agents next spring absent extensions in Minnesota before then.
Vikings Share Critical Aaron Jones News Ahead of Lions Matchup