Another Minnesota Vikings Starter Lands on IR

The Minnesota Vikings might as well change their logo to a hospital icon at this point. The amount of key injuries increase by the day, and they are only two weeks into a 17-game NFL season.

On Monday it was announced that J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle injury and would miss a matter of weeks. On Tuesday, it’s Aaron Jones joining Ty Chandler as the second running back to be placed on injured reserve.

Aaron Jones placed on IR by MN Vikings

Minnesota re-signed Aaron Jones this offseason after the veteran running back played in all 17 games last season. Expecting an oft-injured player to repeat that performance was never a good bet. Now, two weeks into the season, he is headed to injured reserve.

The #Vikings are placing starting RB Aaron Jones on injured reserve, sources tell me and @RapSheet.

Jones was ruled out of Sunday’s game because of a hamstring injury. Now he’s out for at least four more games. pic.twitter.com/61pxXlrrui

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 16, 2025

Jones suffered a hamstring injury on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. The injury forced him from the game and limited him to just five carries for 23 yards. Thankfully the Vikings hedged their bets on Jones by trading for former San Francisco 49ers running back Jordan Mason.

Mason has quickly established himself as the bruising running back Minnesota needs to push the ball down the field. Last season Jones failed to work in the middle of a poor offensive line. That line, while currently hurt, has been overhauled and gives Mason a theoretical chance.

In 17 games last season Jones turned in a career-high 1,138 yards on 255 carries. Now set to miss four games, he’ll come in far below that with just 46 yards on 13 carries thus far. Joining Mason, with Chandler still out for at least another three weeks, is recently signed Cam Akers. This is his third stint with the team, and he provides another veteran option ahead of undrafted rookie Zavier Scott.

Related: Vikings Signing Very Familiar Running Back

It has been a less-than-ideal start to the year for Minnesota on the injury front. They’ll play host to a Cincinnati Bengals team without their starting quarterback Joe Burrow on Sunday. From there, it’s optimism that a softer schedule gives Carson Wentz and the walking infirmary an opportunity to keep the season afloat.