Aaron Jones never doubted he would be ready for Sunday. After missing Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury, the Vikings running back returned to the field, finished the week as a full participant and was cleared to start against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“I finished the game last week, so in my head I was good to go for this week,” Jones said Friday. That confidence is welcome news for Minnesota, which has Jordan Mason on injured reserve and a thin group behind its lead back. But Jones’ availability answers only the first question. How much work he’ll get after carrying 23 times in Chicago remains to be seen.
Jones had one of his heaviest workloads in years against the Bears, turning those 23 carries into 105 yards in difficult, rainy conditions. He wore a knee brace by the end of the game and said afterward he had been banged up. The Vikings held him out of Wednesday’s practice, then watched him progress from limited participation Thursday to a full practice Friday.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said Jones followed the recovery plan the team expected. “He turned over, kind of what we thought would be the case throughout the week,” O’Connell noted in his Friday press conference. “Got a good day in today. We feel good about him being ready to roll.”
That is a significant boost for an offense that has leaned on its ground game through two weeks. Minnesota ranks second in the NFL in designed run rate at 50%, according to ESPN, though that figure comes from a small sample in which Carson Wentz played most of the Vikings’ offensive snaps. Kyler Murray returns as the starting quarterback against Tampa Bay, and his mobility and passing ability could give the entire offense a boost. It may also affect how often Minnesota asks Jones to carry the ball.
Jones said he does not yet know what his workload will look like. “I don’t know what kind of load I’m getting, but when my number’s called, I’ll be ready,” he added. “I like those kinds of games. … And if it turns into that, I’m ready.”
There is a balance for the Vikings to strike. Jones has shown that he can handle a heavy role and remains their most experienced option, but he is 31 and just came through a 23-carry game with a knee issue. Minnesota needs him available, not only for Sunday but for the weeks ahead. A full practice and clearance to start are encouraging; they don’t necessarily mean the team will repeat his Chicago workload.
Mason remains on injured reserve with a fractured thumb, leaving DeeJay Dallas and rookie Demond Claiborne as the other running backs who have been with the team. Dallas played eight offensive snaps against Chicago, carrying twice for eight yards and catching a 12-yard pass. Claiborne played two snaps and caught one pass for two yards. Both could see more work if the Vikings choose to manage Jones’ carries.
Minnesota also has Jerome Ford and Jaret Patterson on its practice squad, giving it the option to elevate another back for the game. That decision would add depth, but it would not necessarily signal that Jones is in danger of missing the game. The Vikings can make the move to have another available option in the rotation, particularly with Mason unavailable.
The team has a separate punter decision to make. Brett Thorson is out with a hamstring injury, and veteran Johnny Hekker is expected to punt after rejoining Minnesota this week. O’Connell said Hekker did a good job preparing and confirmed that he will handle the punting duties. The running-back question is about how the team wants to distribute work; Hekker’s elevation addresses the vacancy at punter.
Tampa Bay will also be without two young defensive starters. The Buccaneers ruled out outside linebacker Rueben Bain Jr. and linebacker Josiah Trotter, who had been a productive tackler and playmaker in the first two games. Their absences could affect the matchup for Minnesota’s offense, but Jones’ health and workload remain the Vikings’ most immediate personnel questions.
For now, the clearest answer is that Jones is ready to play. He took the full practice Friday, says he feels good and is expected to start. The Vikings can decide how much of the load to give him — and whether to add another running back — without treating his return as an all-or-nothing bet. With Murray back and the season only two games old, a healthy Jones gives Minnesota a dependable foundation. How carefully the team uses him may matter nearly as much as having him available at all.
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