The Minnesota Vikings are hoping to get a key piece of their offense back at full strength this weekend, as running back Aaron Jones Sr. is expected to suit up against the Washington Commanders despite dealing with a shoulder injury. While the issue popped up earlier in the week, it doesn’t appear serious-Jones wasn’t listed on the team’s final injury report, a strong indication he’ll be ready to go come kickoff.
That’s good news for a Vikings team that’s been searching for consistency on offense all season long. Jones has already missed time this year with a hamstring injury, which opened the door for Jordan Mason to take over lead-back duties.
But since returning, Jones has quietly been one of the more efficient pieces in Minnesota’s offense. Through eight games, he’s put up 300 yards on 67 carries-good for 4.5 yards per tote-along with 20 catches for 150 yards.
He’s found the end zone twice, once on the ground and once through the air, while playing in just over half (53.7%) of the team’s offensive snaps.
In a season where the Vikings have been plagued by instability under center, Jones’ ability to generate positive yardage has been a rare bright spot. The offense has struggled to find rhythm, largely due to inconsistent quarterback play.
Rookie J.J. McCarthy is expected to start again this week after clearing concussion protocol, but the results with him under center have been mixed at best.
The Vikings are 2-4 in his starts, and the offense has looked wildly uneven, posting point totals of 27, 6, 27, 19, 17, and 6 in those games.
That kind of up-and-down production has left Minnesota on the outside looking in when it comes to the NFC playoff picture. They were blanked last week in Seattle, and their season scoring average sits at just 18.7 points per game-a number that puts them in the bottom third of the league. Even against a Washington defense that ranks 28th in points allowed, the Vikings will need to prove they can put together a complete game offensively.
Vikings do not believe that running back Aaron Jones’ shoulder injury is serious, and he is likely to be considered day-to-day.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 1, 2025
Oddsmakers initially had Washington as slight favorites, but the line has since swung in Minnesota’s favor, making the Vikings narrow home favorites heading into Sunday. That shift could reflect the potential impact of Jones’ availability-his presence gives Minnesota a more balanced attack and a proven veteran who can take some pressure off a young quarterback still finding his footing.
With the postseason hopes hanging by a thread, every snap matters for Minnesota. If Jones can stay healthy and continue producing at his current clip, he could be the steadying force this offense desperately needs down the stretch.