Sep 22, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones (33) runs the ball against the Houston Texans during the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones was injured on Sunday at the Jacksonville Jaguars, a 12-7 sloppy win by the purple team.
Jones ultimately returned to the contest late in the 4th Quarter, but on Monday, he explained why the whole process took so long.
Comically, the X-ray room wasn’t close to him. He took a cart to the opposite end of the facility.
“You know, the only reason that I got carted off was because the X-ray machine was on the whole other side of the stadium. Gotta get in the cart. If it wasn’t for that, I wouldn’t have gotten carted off,” Jones told Kay Adams.
Meanwhile, and perhaps more importantly, according to Jones personally — he’s fine, which would explain why he returned to the Week 10 tilt in Jacksonville. “We did an X-ray, a little sore now, but not near as bad as I thought it was gonna be from the initial hit,” Jones told reporters via Vikings.com after the 12-7 triumph.
“I thought it might’ve cracked something. But I’m good. God’s good. He had his protection on me. It’s not the prettiest, but we got it done.”
The update is quite optimistic for a team that scored no touchdowns on Sunday. Suddenly, Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold cannot avoid throwing interceptions, delivering three gifts via interception to the Jaguars and damn near the game. Imagining next weekend at the Tennessee Titans with an inaccurate Darnold, plus no Jones, in theory, might’ve caused heartburn. But all seems well, according to Jones.
Without Jones, Minnesota primarily relied on Cam Akers, who joined the team via trade in October. Akers didn’t quite pack the same punch as Jones, adding 47 yards from scrimmage on 14 touches. The RB2 is fine in spots relieving Jones, but an RB1 Akers may not net dividends.
Jones had an earlier run-in with an injury this season, too. In a Week 5 contest against the New York Jets in London, he hurt his hamstring — and the Vikings’ offense immediately stopped operating efficiently. Thankfully, the team had a bye the following week, and Jones healed just in time for Week 7.
“We just stick with it, continue to grind, and get better every day. Come back out next Sunday and make it look better,” Jones added about his team’s performance.
And the guy might’ve returned to the Jaguars-Vikings game sooner if not for the geography of EverBank Stadium.
The Vikings are early 6.5-point favorites to take down the Tennessee Titans this weekend, and Jones should be good to go for the matchup.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.