The Vikings’ first practice of the week brought the biggest update right away: Aaron Jones Sr. was held out on Wednesday as he works through a knee issue, though Minnesota is still holding out hope he can suit up Sunday against Tampa Bay.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said the team is treating the situation day to day, with a 3:05 p.m. Central kickoff set for the road matchup against the Buccaneers.
“Aaron Jones won’t practice today,” O’Connell said, while noting the team is taking a day-to-day approach. “Still want to give them the opportunity to work through it and have a chance to play this week.”
Even with the missed session, O’Connell said Jones is still around the building and moving normally.
“He’s bouncing around the building like normal,” O’Connell said. “It’s more so the knee of just allowing that thing to turn over.
He feels pretty good. We’ll just keep getting treatment around the clock and see if we can pick up his workload as the week goes on.”
O’Connell also made sure to underline what Jones has meant since joining Minnesota last season.
“Aaron is one of one,” O’Connell said. “He’s a really good football player and just as good as it gets from a leadership and kind of establishing the standard of what we want Minnesota Vikings players to look like.”
If Jones can’t take on a full workload later in the week, the Vikings have options. O’Connell mentioned Deejay Dallas and Demond Claiborne as players who could step into bigger roles, and he also pointed to recent practice squad additions Jerome Ford and Jaret Patterson for added depth.
Before the injury updates, O’Connell opened his session by praising cornerback Isaiah Rogers after his blocked field goal helped swing Sunday’s win and earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition.
“Super deserving,” O’Connell said. “What a play he made considering all the factors in the moment of the game. It was just spectacular.”
Minnesota now turns its attention to a Buccaneers team O’Connell called a major test on the road.
“Another road game, another very, very significant challenge,” he said. “A really good football team.”
He singled out Baker Mayfield, with whom he spent time during the offseason, and made it clear he expects a tough version of Tampa Bay on Sunday.
“I think the world of him as a competitor,” O’Connell said. “We know we’re going to get the best version of the Bucs.”
O’Connell said Mayfield is especially difficult to defend because of the way he competes and extends plays when things break down.
“Until he’s off the field and the punt team’s on, or until you’ve truly gotten him off the field and ended the drive, he’s going to make the play,” O’Connell said.
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