Aaron Jones is a full go for Sunday’s marquee NFC North showdown against the Lions at Ford Field, a huge piece of news considering his recent knee issues and the Vikings’ need for a healthy backfield. Jones, who was on the injury report earlier in the week, didn’t practice Wednesday, got in a limited session Thursday, and was a full participant Friday, earning him no game status designation. But before you get too comfortable, there’s a whole lot more to unpack about what “full go” actually means for the Vikings’ run game.
The Jones-Mason Split: Who’s REALLY Carrying the Load?
Let’s be real, Jones has been battling a sprained MCL and playing through it all season. He’s stacked up 118 touches for 508 yards and two touchdowns. The dude’s a workhorse. But here’s where it gets interesting: Jordan Mason, who was on injured reserve from Weeks 2-5 with a thumb issue, returned last week. And Mason didn’t just return; he *out-snapped* Jones 38 to 15. Yeah, Jones left early in the fourth quarter after taking a hit to his knee, which explains some of that split, but Mason still got 15 carries for 68 yards in his comeback game.
Head Coach Kevin O’Connell isn’t shying away from it either. He said, straight up, “With the workload Aaron has had, we want to make sure (Mason) is a focal point for what we’re doing.” A focal point! That’s a strong statement for a guy who just got back. O’Connell did follow up by saying Jones “brings so much to our offense and he’s still gonna have a significant role,” adding that it will be “by flow of the game.” Sounds like they’re trying to manage Jones’ snaps, even if he’s “good to go.” They want Mason “getting enough touches to get back in the flow of things and get in sync.” So, while Jones is active, expect a significant split, maybe even leaning towards Mason early on.
O’Connell’s MCL Assurance vs. Reality
Here’s the kicker: O’Connell is convinced Jones’ MCL injury won’t be a season-long issue. He thinks Jones “will be able to put it behind him at some point” and “it’s something he’ll be able to put behind him as we go.” He even mentioned Jones was “feeling really good coming out of the bye” before it “flamed up a little bit on him last week.” You love to hear the coach’s optimism, but let’s not forget Jones left last week’s game after taking a hit to that knee. “Good to go” is one thing, but how much can a player truly shake off a sprained MCL mid-season, especially when it just “flamed up” again? It feels like they’re walking a tightrope with their star back.
On the rest of the injury front, it’s mostly good news for the Vikings. Right tackle Brian O’Neill, left guard Joe Huber (knee), and tight end Gavin Bartholomew (ankle) are all clear and ready to roll. The only active roster player with a game designation is depth safety Jay Ward, who’s questionable with a knee injury. Ward, who plays primarily on special teams (109 snaps vs. just four on defense), is still expected to play, according to O’Connell, despite being a limited participant Friday.
Sunday’s NFC North clash against the Lions is HUGE, and how the Vikings manage Jones’ workload, and how his knee holds up under game pressure, could be the difference-maker. Will Mason truly be a focal point, or will Jones’ “significant role” take over? We’re all watching to see how this plays out.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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