The Vikings kept grinding through the kind of afternoon that can unravel a season, and Aaron Jones Sr. was right in the middle of it.
Jones took on an oversized load again Sunday in New Orleans, and it nearly caught up with him in the first quarter. On his eighth touch, he fumbled and also came away with a knee injury while already carrying the weight of an offense hit hard by injuries. Minnesota had leaned on him even more since Jordan Mason went down with a Week 1 thumb injury, and Jones had already logged 77 touches over the previous 13 quarters.
He left briefly to be checked by the team’s medical staff, and it wasn’t clear whether the knee issue was the same one he has been dealing with this season. But he came right back, and the Vikings rode him to a 23-13 win over the Saints.
Jones opened the next drive with three straight carries and never looked like a player ready to fold. He finished with a career-high 28 touches for 117 yards, including an 8-yard touchdown run that stood out as one of the game’s defining plays. Jones lowered his shoulder and powered through Saints safety Julian Blackmon on the way to the end zone, stretching Minnesota’s lead to 20-13 at the start of the fourth quarter.
The score felt like a much-needed answer for an offense that had been taking body blows all day.
Minnesota was already without receiver Jordan Addison, who was ruled out before kickoff because of a hamstring strain he suffered last week against Miami. The Vikings also played without left tackle Christian Darrisaw, who is in concussion protocol, and left guard Donovan Jackson, who injured his knee against the Dolphins.
Tight end T.J. Hockenson left after his helmet hit the turf on a first-quarter catch and was diagnosed with a concussion.
Mason and tight end Josh Oliver are on injured reserve.
Jones also tied his career high with 25 carries, matching the total he set in 2019 with Green Bay, and added three catches for four yards.
“What a warrior over the last few weeks,” coach Kevin O’Connell said. “His ability to be a warrior on game day, find a way to make it to the next one and then just be able to be leaned on the way that he is; he’s an inspiration to this group.
But his wingman, [Mason], is coming back. Hopefully he’ll make it back after the bye.”
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Now Pettine is reportedly on his way back, and the landing spot only adds to the intrigue. His next stop is expected to be Dallas, where his past working relationships with defensive coordinator Christian Parker and head coach Brian Schottenheimer helped pave the way, a reminder that coaching departures and returns are often shaped as much by trust and familiarity as by scheme. [Read more 🡒]