MN Vikings Injury Update After Lions Win

The Minnesota Vikings went into Detroit on Sunday and earned a 27-24 victory over the reigning NFC North Champion Lions that, really, nobody saw coming.

In week 9, redshirt rookie JJ McCarthy reminded fans and media members why he was drafted No. 10 overall in 2024, following five-straight games on the sideline recovering from a high ankle sprain, which came after two underwhelming performances to start his NFL career.

On top off that, the Vikings defense played far and away the best game of its 2025 season, pressuring Jared Goff nonstop with blitzers up the middle that the veteran quarterback and Lions coaching staff failed to make proper adjustments for throughout the afternoon.

But really, Sunday’s victory was a product of improving health on both sides of the football in Minnesota. Andrew Van Ginkel wreaked havoc on defense for just the third time this year. Meanwhile, Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill bookended the offensive line during the entire contest for just the second time together all season.

Aaron Jones optimistic about his chances to play vs Ravens

Of course, there were some injury scares during the game. That’s football, especially for the 2025 MN Vikings. Aaron Jones exited early with what he disclosed, after the win, as a sprained AC Joint.

Head coach Kevin O’Connell was careful to disclose any details on whether Jones will play next week against the Ravens, but the second-year Vikings running back was extremely confident in the locker room that he’ll be available, noting that he’s suffered and played through this exact injury before.

Aaron Jones had 98 total yards in the win over the Lions today. Then he left the game with a shoulder injury and didn't return. He told me he's alright and will be back on the field. #Vikings @kare11 pic.twitter.com/eZ6S6YqGSL

— Reggie Wilson (@ReggieWilsonTV) November 3, 2025

“I feel alright. It’s just take a day or two to recover. I’ll be back out there. I have played through an AC [joint injury] before. [Not coming back in vs the Lions] was more precautionary, just because we weren’t able to get up here an get an X-ray and see how bad it was. But I’m good, I’ll be good. I’ll be back out there [vs the Ravens].”

Aaron Jones on AC Joint injury after win vs Lions

Other Minnesota Vikings injury updates

Outside of Aaron Jones’ injury on Sunday in Detroit, the Minnesota Vikings seemingly got out of Detroit injury free. Justin Jefferson went down during the game, but returned after being treated for cramping. All three of Andrew Van Ginkel, Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill played the entire game.

Not only that, but in the locker room after the game, the veteran right tackle told reporters that, while he did not want to speak for Christian, he feels like both Vikings tackles are “both trending in the right direction” and “close to 100%.”

“I think both me and [Christian Darrisaw] are trending in the right direction in terms of getting close to 100 percent. I can’t speak for him fully, but just being around him the whole week, I think we’re both trending in the right direction.”

Brian O’Neill after Lions win (via the Star Tribune)

Related: JJ McCarthy Rides Emotional Roller Coaster After Impossible Vikings Win

That is great news, especially being that Darrisaw has taken himself out of multiple games this season, because he wasn’t feeling close to 100%. We found out on Sunday just how important it is for the MN Vikings to have their most talented linemen (and linebackers on defense) available.

Unexpectedly, Minnesota was better in the trenches than Detroit yesterday. That does not happen if Darrisaw, O’Neill, Van Ginkel and Cashman aren’t all available for the important interdivisional matchup.

The key to a successful second half for the Vikings, beyond the development of JJ McCarthy, is health. And going into week 10, it appears they are on the come-up in that department.