The Minnesota Vikings picked up a much-needed victory against the Detroit Lions in Week 9, but running back Aaron Jones didn’t escape the contest unscathed.
Not only did Jones suffer a shoulder injury in the game, which has left him questionable for the team’s Week 10 showdown with the surging Baltimore Ravens, he also incurred a punishment from the league for unnecessary roughness.
The NFL on Saturday announced a $23,186 fine against Jones for “use of the helmet” during a first-quarter play against Detroit. Jones will not face any suspension threat for his actions and will be able to play against Baltimore should his health issues allow it.
Aaron Jones Dealing With Yet Another Injury Ahead of Ravens Game
GettyMinnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones.
Jones, who has missed half of Minnesota’s games to this point in the season already due to injury, appears likely to go against the Ravens despite his shoulder problem.
“Vikings RB Aaron Jones (questionable, shoulder) is expected to play Sunday vs. Ravens, per sources,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reported via X on Saturday.
Jones was a key piece to Minnesota’s offense in its three-point road victory over the Lions in Week 9, rushing for 78 yards on just nine carries and hauling in two receptions for 20 yards through the air.
When healthy, Jones has proven an important safety valve for Minnesota’s second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who is just 22 years old and has started just three games as a professional (2-1).
That said, Jones’ production is way down in 2025, mainly because he has missed four of eight games to this point for the .500 Vikings (4-4). Jones has 139 rushing yards on 27 carries (5.1 yards per attempt) and seven catches for 79 receiving yards and one score.
Aaron Jones May Be Playing Last Season With Vikings in 2025
GettyRunning back Aaron Jones of the Minnesota Vikings.
Jones’ age and injury history could set him up for a transition to a new team next offseason, either via a trade or release on the part of the Vikings.
Soon to turn 31 years old, Jones was a trade candidate leading up to the NFL’s November 4 deadline for such transactions, per Bill Barnwell of ESPN.
“Moving on from Jones might be more about saving money than anything else. He is owed just over $1 million in 2025 and has $2 million of his $10 million compensation in 2026 guaranteed, a deal the Vikings are likely to move on from this offseason,” Barnwell wrote on October 30. “Would a team like the [Los Angeles] Chargers be willing to essentially pay $3 million to have Jones in its lineup for the rest of 2025?”
Minnesota also traded for running back Jordan Mason from the San Francisco 49ers ahead of the season before inking him to a two-year contract extension. Mason was already usurping Jones as the team’s primary rusher out of the backfield on first- and second-downs before Jones suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 that landed him on the injured reserve list (IR).
As such, this campaign could be Jones’ last hoorah in Minneapolis before the Vikings move on to a younger core group in the offensive backfield.
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