Meanwhile, their opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, come in healthier than they have been all season. Thankfully, the Vikings are trending trending positively in that department, as well.

That doesn’t mean Minnesota will have their full complement of starters Sunday afternoon. But for the most part, the Vikings are healthier now than they have been for most of 2025. On Saturday, we got more info on a couple of Vikings players, some positive… the other not so much.

Aaron Jones returns for Minnesota Vikings

Jeremy Fowler (ESPN) reported Saturday that Aaron Jones — as expected — should be ready to go this weekend, after he exited the Lions game with an AC Joint injury. At 10:30 CST Sunday, the MN Vikings officially listed Jones as “Active”.

Vikings RB Aaron Jones (questionable, shoulder) is expected to play Sunday vs. Ravens, per sources.

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) November 8, 2025

Aaron Jones stayed remarkably healthy in 2024, playing in all 17 of the Minnesota Vikings’ games. Last weekend, prior to injury, Jones carried the rock nine times for 78 yards and caught both of his targets for 20 more.

Week 9 in Detroit was Jones’ first game back, after spending four weeks on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. Beyond his bad shoulder, the 30-year-old is also dealing with a toe injury. If he can go as expected, it will be his fifth game of the year for Minnesota.

Although the availability has been limited (27 carries into 139 yards), Jones is averaging 5.1 yards per carry so far this season, his highest mark since 2022. On the season he has turned. He’ll again assume a split role in the backfield along with Jordan Mason.

Veteran cornerback signed with Okudah heading to IR

Jeff Okudah is the second Minnesota Vikings player to suffer a pair of concussions this season. Like Ryan Kelly, Okudah is headed to injured reserve as he is still dealing with symptoms. That means veteran Fabian Moreau is now headed to the active roster.

The #Vikings have signed CB Fabian Moreau to the 53-man roster and elevated RB Corey Kiner to the active roster for #BALvsMIN.

CB Jeff Okudah has been placed on IR. pic.twitter.com/vstZn6IlW2

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 8, 2025

Last season Moreau played in seven games for the Vikings. Signed to the practice squad at the beginning of the year, Sunday will be his third game of 2025.

Corey Kiner, who went undrafted out of Cincinnati, has been elevated to the active roster as well. He presents another option for the Vikings offense with Jones have a level of uncertainty to his status.

Although Kirk Cousins will be holding the clipboard, his Atlanta Falcons come to town for a Sunday Night Football matchup in Week 2. Michael Penix Jr. gets another crack at besting McCarthy after losing to him in the National Championship the last time they squared off.

If Minnesota is going to emerge victorious, there are a few areas they must focus in on. Here are three keys for Sunday Night.

Who steps up in absence of MN Vikings starters?

Last week the Minnesota Vikings were without Harrison Smith and Christian Darrisaw. The former was expected, while the latter was something of a surprise. Darrisaw already being ruled out for Week 2 is relatively problematic.

Justin Skule stepped in at starting left tackle for Darrisaw. Only Adam Thielen produced a worse offensive grade per Pro Football Focus. Skule was 44th out of 64 tackles and gave up two sacks. He simply has to be better, and will be in there starting again.

Dallas Turner, defensive end?

Brian Flores got his top 3 edges on the field at the same time — putting Turner on the line (often hand down) with Van Ginkel outside or stacked behind as an OLB or off-ball LB

Turner was strong vs the run from this alignment, and got a pressure pic.twitter.com/MKQjYn1DE7

— Krauser (@Krauserrific) September 10, 2025

Smith being available would help the defense. Andrew Van Ginkel and Jeff Okudah are both out with concussions. That puts a serious amount of pressure on second-year edge rusher Dallas Turner to shine. Blake Cashman also hit injured reserve earlier this week and Eric Wilson will take over his role. Linebacker Gabriel Murphy will get a shot as well.

The #Vikings have elevated OLB Gabe Murphy and CB Fabian Moreau to the active roster for tomorrow night's game. pic.twitter.com/BX5gIIX812

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) September 13, 2025

There is an opportunity at cornerback, and in the front seven. Can Dwight McGlothern, or an elevated Fabian Moreau, be enough on the outside. Is this the game Turner shows off just how good he can be? Brian Flores needs the help, and multiple players have to provide it.

Containing Penix Jr. a point of emphasis

In Week 1 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was 27-of-42 for 298 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball six times for 21 yards and a touchdown. That offensive production took place without second wide receiving option Darnell Mooney.

This week Mooney will rejoin Drake London and give the Vikings two wideouts to cover. Running back Bijan Robinson led the receiving game with six receptions for 100 yards and a touchdown as well. Penix Jr. has plenty of weapons to challenge Minnesota’s defense, and he’s shifty as well.

Michael Penix Jr. has led a go-ahead/game-tying drive in 3/4 games as the starter 🔥

Dialed in when it matters most ⭐️ pic.twitter.com/FPljawxV8Q

— Not Bijan (@InBijanWeTrust) September 8, 2025

Minnesota got beat by Caleb Williams for 58 yards on six carries. Penix Jr. is probably even a more adept runner, and they can’t allow his ability to create an opportunity to open up the offense. Containing Penix Jr. in the pocket will give the secondary a better chance to hold on despite being down some talent.

Last season Penix Jr. made just a single road start in his five games. U.S. Bank Stadium will be the most hostile environment he has experienced, and the home field advantage can play into the hands of the Minnesota Vikings as well.

Will the wide receivers please step up

It was expected there would be some growing pains in the passing game. McCarthy had never previously started and NFL game, and the Vikings opted against a real dress rehearsal in the preseason. Both Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen registered drops while Aaron Jones tied for the team lead in receiving yards with 44.

J.J. McCarthy's 27-yard TD pass to Aaron Jones was Jones' 8th deep reception of his career, the most deep receptions by a running back since 2017.

Only Saquon Barkley (5) has more deep touchdowns than Jones (4) among RBs in that span.#MINvsCHI | #Skol pic.twitter.com/8qXRvfuUPj

— Next Gen Stats (@NextGenStats) September 9, 2025

Last season the Falcons were middle-of-the-pack when it comes to receiving yards allowed. There’s an opportunity for Jefferson to make his first mark of the season, and Thielen can help to substantiate why he was brought back to Minnesota.

If McCarthy is going to thrive going forward, it will be because the sum of all parts around him work at a high clip. In Week 1 Jordan Mason and Jones created a nice two-headed monster on the ground. McCarthy threw for just 143 yards, and there weren’t a ton of explosive plays through the air. If Kevin O’Connell can find opportunities for shot plays, the wide receivers need to come through.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Wasted No Time Delivering Legendary Message

Should McCarthy have his first 200-yard passing game of his career on Sunday, it would seem likely that the Minnesota Vikings are in a good position to best the Atlanta Falcons.

Kickoff is set for 7:20 pm for Sunday Night Football. The return of Thielen to U.S. Bank Stadium, and the introduction of McCarthy to home fans, should be a sight to behold.

It was the first game Smith has missed since week 18 of the 2022 season vs the Chicago Bears, a start streak that had reached 31 games in a row, prior to his absence on Sunday. In week 17 vs the Green Bay Packers, though, it sounds like Harry the Hitman will start a new streak.

Early Week 17 Minnesota Vikings injury updates: Good news on Harrison Smith and Ivan Pace Jr

On Monday, head coach Kevin O’Connell met with reporters and said he expects his future Ring of Honor safety to return vs the Vikings’ hated rival, in what will be one of the most anticipated iterations of the historic rivalry in recent seasons.

“Harrison Smith, as I kinda said yesterday, truly was a game-time [decision]. So to get the victory, and also make sure we gave him a day, he should be able to progress through the week and be available for us [vs the Packers].”

Kevin O’Connell on Harrison Smith injury status

But Harrison Smith wasn’t the only optimistic injury update we got from Minnesota’s head coach yesterday. Ivan Pace Jr had his practice window opened, which means he now has 21 days to get back on the active roster.

In Pace’s case, it sounds like it could be much sooner than that, possibly even this week vs the Packers. When pressed on the linebacker’s status for Sunday, O’Connell pushed back a little bit, but did confirm that the plan is to “get him some work, and then have him available” vs for a huge week 17 game this weekend.

KOC: “We will open Ivan Pace Jr’s window, to begin practicing. [I am] very excited about that.”

Reporter: “Just to clarify, you made it sound like Ivan definitely is going to come back this week…?”

KOC: “Well, we’re going to open his window and we’ll see how he progresses. Coming off of a hamstring [injury] you never quite know, so I don’t want to be absolute. But the plan is to open his window, get him some work and hopefully have him available [on Sunday].”

Kevin O’Connell press conference back-and-forth from Monday

Related: What We Learned About the Vikings in Latest Nerve-Racking Win vs Seahawks

The reporter who asked that Ivan Pace Jr follow-up question to the Minnesota Vikings head coach was the Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer. That is notable, because of something Krammer said late last week, as a guest on Matthew Coller‘s “Purple Insider” podcast.

Ivan Pace Jr has been ready to return…?

There, the Vikings insider and beat writer recalled a recent comment from Kevin O’Connell where, “reading between the lines”, the head coach pretty much admitted that the Vikings mistakenly placed Pace Jr on injured reserve.

That the sophomore linebacker’s hamstring injury was not as serious as they originally determined, and he’s been healthy enough to return, but just hadn’t yet reached the four weeks on IR necessary to make him eligible.

“O’Connell mentioned something this week, where he said, you know, maybe his return would have been sooner than we expected, meaning that I think they probably, reading between the lines, it seems like he could have been out here this week, but he’s on IR, so they can’t bring him back yet.”

Andrew Krammer – Purple Insider Podcast

Fabian Moreau, Jalen Redmond much more questionable

Back to KOC’s press conference from Monday, where he also gave updates on Jalen Redmond and backup CB Fabian Moreau, who have more questions surrounding their status for week 17 than Ivan Pace Jr and Harrison Smith.

Related: Week 16 PFF Grades: Minnesota Vikings’ Top Performers and Key Takeaways

Redmond is still in concussion protocol, but he is doing better than last week. Independent doctors will work with Vikings doctors to monitor the 25-year-old‘s progress the rest of this week, to see if he is able to clear protocol. As for Moreau, he is still nursing his way back from a hip injury suffered in week 15 vs Chicago.

The 30-year-old also sounds like more of a longshot to be active vs the Packers. Even with Gilmore healthy, Moreau proved himself as very serviceable and would allow defensive coordinator Brian Flores a much deeper group of cornerbacks, for this final two-game stretch run.

On Tuesday, news broke that the Vikings were signing 30-year-old cornerback, Fabian Moreau. The UCLA alum most recently played for the Denver Broncos.

The #Vikings are signing veteran CB Fabian Moreau, source says. Moreau played in 16 games for the #Broncos last season with 11 starts, recording one interception and seven passes defensed. Former third-round pick of the #Commanders heads into his eight NFL season. pic.twitter.com/VBN1jO5noL

— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) July 30, 2024

Minnesota Vikings sign Fabian Moreau

Moreau was a semi-regular starter for the Broncos just one season ago, but this doesn’t look like the splash move that local insiders expect to happen sometime in the next few weeks. If so, the Vikings defense is in big trouble. Moreau may have started most Broncos games last season, but that doesn’t mean he did it very well.

In 2023, Moreau recorded one interception and totaled 43 tackles (1 TFL). But if you are a believer in Pro Football Focus then you aren’t going to be all that excited about this signing. Last year, in 739 snaps, Fabian Moreau posted an underwhelming 62.4 overall PFF grade that included a 55.5 run defense grade and 62.9 coverage grade.

In 739 snaps last season for the #Broncos, CB Fabian Moreau's @PFF grades from 2023:
🏈Overall: 62.4
🏈Run Defense: 55.5
🏈Tackling: 64.6
🏈Pass Rush: 54.6
🏈Coverage: 62.9

Overall, an average to a below average player last year. #Skol https://t.co/RItNntL5dO pic.twitter.com/d3ela2RLwG

— The Purple Persuasion (@TPPSkol) July 30, 2024

During his 7-year NFL career, Moreau has started 56 of the 106 NFL games he has played. He’s totaled 7 interceptions, 3 forced fumbles and 298 tackles. He’s played for four teams, including the Washington Commanders, Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants and Broncos.

While Fabian may not be the cornerback we were hoping for, Minnesota Vikings fans can at least sleep sound knowing their ownership values winning, and knows how winning affects the bottom dollar. Unlike the owners of the Twins, just a few blocks away.