The Minnesota Vikings’ Week 13 trip to Seattle was rough in every possible way. Not only did the offense get blanked on the scoreboard, but they also lost one of their most trusted weapons. Veteran running back Aaron Jones exited in the third quarter after landing awkwardly on his shoulder while fighting for extra yards - a gritty effort that ended with him heading to the locker room and not returning.
Before the injury, Jones had a tough afternoon, managing just three rushing yards on six carries and adding 22 yards through the air. For a Vikings offense that has scored just six points total over the last two weeks and is riding a four-game losing streak to fall to 4-8, the timing couldn’t be worse.
Now, the silver lining: early indications are that the injury isn’t considered serious. The team believes Jones is day-to-day.
That’s encouraging, but it still leaves his status for Week 14 up in the air as Minnesota prepares to host the Commanders at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Here’s the wrinkle - Jones has been managing a shoulder issue for a while now. This latest hit may have aggravated an already nagging injury, raising real questions about how much he can realistically contribute, even if he’s active. The Vikings don’t just need him suited up - they need him effective.
If Jones can’t go, or is limited, expect Jordan Mason and Zavier Scott to see an uptick in carries. Neither has been asked to carry a heavy load this season, but with the offense sputtering and the margin for error shrinking by the week, they may be called on to help stabilize a run game that’s been stuck in neutral.
And that’s only half the story. Minnesota is also trying to sort out its quarterback situation after a disastrous outing from undrafted rookie Max Brosmer, who threw four interceptions - including a pick-six - in the blowout loss to the Seahawks. Head coach Kevin O’Connell made it clear: the hope is to get JJ McCarthy through concussion protocol in time to practice and potentially start in Week 14.
McCarthy hasn’t exactly lit it up this season - six touchdowns to 10 interceptions in six games - but the coaching staff still sees him as the better option if he’s cleared. That says a lot about the current state of the quarterback room.
So here’s where things stand: the Vikings are trying to stop a downward spiral with a banged-up backfield, a quarterback carousel, and an offense that hasn’t found the end zone in two weeks. Whether Aaron Jones can return quickly - and return at something close to full strength - could be a major factor in whether Minnesota can salvage anything from this season.
Because right now, they’re not just fighting for wins. They’re fighting for stability.