The Vikings got a scare on Sunday when Aaron Jones Sr. left late in their 16-10 win over the Colts with a knee injury. On Monday morning, though, the news was encouraging. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Jones’s injury “is not considered to be significant at this time,” and one source described it as a “day to day” situation.
Vikings RB Aaron Jones’ knee injury that he suffered during Sunday’s win over the Colts is not considered to be significant at this time, and a source described him as “day to day.”
That leaves Minnesota with a workable path heading into Week 8 against the Lions, but it also strengthens the case for leaning more heavily on Jordan Mason. With Jones already dealing with bumps and bruises this late in October, the Vikings have every reason to be cautious with how they split the workload.
Mason, who had been out for four games with a fractured thumb and also used the bye week to heal up, returned against Indianapolis and wasted no time getting back into the rotation. He handled 15 of Minnesota’s 29 backfield touches, turned them into 68 rushing yards, and averaged 4.5 yards per carry. Pro Football Focus gave him a 67.2 run grade, which ranked 12th among running backs with double-digit carries in Week 7.
Jones was quieter before his injury, finishing with 26 yards on eight carries. DeeJay Dallas, despite being elevated from the practice squad for game day, did not receive a touch.
The numbers point pretty clearly toward Mason handling a much bigger piece of the offense this week if Jones isn’t at full strength. Through limited action, Mason has already shown he can carry a real load, with 30 carries for 127 rushing yards and a touchdown. That production puts him on pace for 255 carries, 1,080 yards, and nine touchdowns over 17 games.
That kind of workload would fit the way Minnesota already operates. The Vikings lean on the run more than most teams, sitting at 30.1 rushing attempts per game.
Only the Bears at 35.1 and the Ravens at 30.2 average more. That commitment to the ground game is part of why Jones was averaging 21.3 carries per game while Mason was sidelined, including a season-high 25 carries against the Saints in Week 5.
Against Detroit, Mason could be in line for 15 to 20 carries, with Jones potentially sprinkled in for another five to eight if he’s able to go. A few carries for quarterback Kyler Murray and perhaps an opportunity or two for Dallas could round out the plan, but the clearest move is to ride the hot hand and keep Jones from being overextended.
That approach would also help Minnesota preserve Jones for the stretch ahead while giving Mason the kind of role he has already proven he can handle. If the Vikings want to keep their backfield fresh and their offense moving, Sunday looks like the right time to keep Mason front and center.
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