Vikings RB Aaron Jones Gives Update on His Injured Ribs

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Aaron Jones - Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Steve Roberts-Imagn Images

Minnesota Vikings 1st year veteran running back Aaron Jones was arguably the team’s offensive MVP through the first nine games of the 2024 NFL season, especially after he was the team’s only bright spot offensively in a 12-7 ugly win vs the Jaguars, in week 10.

Entering week 11 vs the Tennessee Titans, Jones had racked up 653 yards (4.6 YPC) and 2 touchdowns on the ground, to go with another 258 yards (9.2 YPR) and 1 touchdown through the air, establishing himself as the 2nd-most dangerous weapon the Vikings offense, behind Justin Jefferson.

But then, at the end of his 88 yard rushing performance in Jacksonville, Jones took at vicious helmet shot to his ribcage. It took the near 30-year-old awhile to get off the Jags field, and he wasn’t quick to recover on the sideline, but he did enter the contest again, and even took a carry or two.

One week later, Aaron Jones was back on the field in Tennessee, but he did not look like himself, especially after taking another shot to the rib area, via T’Vondre Sweat. Jones played just 53% of the Vikings’ offensive snaps vs the Titans, down from 75% in week 9 vs the Colts and 92% in week 8 vs the Rams. He carried the ball 15 times, for 39 yards (2.6 YPC), and caught 1 pass for 4 yards.

Aaron Jones injury update – Minnesota Vikings

It didn’t take a doctor with binoculars to see that Aaron Jones was not right last week. But on Thursday, he met with Minnesota Vikings beat writers and local media members, where he admitted he was not right last week. Thankfully, the Packer-turned-Viking is confident that he is feeling a lot better this week.

Snap counts and body language the last two weeks suggest Aaron Jones’ health has seen better days. But the soon-to-be-30-year-old running back said things are looking up.

“I definitely feel a lot better than last week,” Jones said. “So I’m confident going into this week.”

Star Tribune

If true, this is huge news for Kevin O’Connell’s offense, which has been a shell of itself this season, without a productive Aaron Jones in the backfield. If, for whatever reason, Jones is not as healthy as he is leading on, the Minnesota Vikings will turn to Cam Akers, who is averaging 3.8 YPC (29 carries) over the past two weeks.

Related: Mike Florio is Bored with the 2024 Minnesota Vikings

Jones also told those gathered at TCO Performance Center on Thursday that he is feeling a lot of pressure from those close to him, to get back in the end zone. Aaron has not reached pay dirt in over a month, when he scored one rushing and one receiving touchdown, in a Vikings loss vs the Detroit Lions.

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