The Minnesota Vikings defeated the New York Jets on Sunday, to move to 5-0 on the 2024 season . The victory was far from pretty. In fact, the offense looked the worst it has all season. In large part because Aaron Jones left in the first half with a hip injury.
Aaron Jones exits Minnesota Vikings vs New York Jets with injury
Jones was “Questionable” to return, at first, before being downgraded to “Out”. The injury is obviously worrisome for Vikings fans and those inside the locker room. After Jones left, Minnesota’s offensive efficiency fell off a cliff. Aaron Jones averaged 4.1 yards per carry (7 carries), before exiting the game.
Ty Chandler received the bulk of the running back workload, in Jones’ absence. He carried the ball 14 times for just 30 yards, a putrid 2.1 yards per carry. It wasn’t just the struggles in the running game that stuck out, in Jones’ absence.
Without a competent run game, Kevin O’Connell went right back to his old self. Pass first, pass second and never run. As a result, against a really good Jets defense, QB Sam Darnold had his worst game as a Viking. The 7th-year quarterback completed less than 50% of his passes, including one interception and zero touchdowns.
Related: What We Learned About the Minnesota Vikings in London Win Over Jets
In other words, the Minnesota Vikings need Aaron Jones to be back on the field in two weeks, when they play against the Detroit Lions, to decide who is the king of the NFC North, as we near the halfway point of the season.
Initial reports on Jones’ injury are optimistic
Fortunately, we got good news on that front, Sunday evening. According to Mike Florio (ProFootballTalk) , the Vikings believe Aaron Jones avoided major injury vs New York, and they expect him, at least for now, to be ready vs the Lions in week 7.
Initial word is that, by the time the Vikings return to action after their Week 6 bye, Jones should be good to go.
Mike Florio – ProFootballTalk.com
I don’t have to tell Minnesota Vikings fans this, but Aaron Jones deserves about just as much credit for this team’s early success in 2024, as Sam Darnold or Kevin O’Connell. Anyone who watched Alexander Mattison drag KOC’s offense down in 2023 appreciates exactly what the former Green Bay Packer brings his one-time rival.
His quickness, sneaky speed and ability to bounce off tacklers has given the Vikings a legitimate running threat they didn’t have a year ago. Pairing Jones with O’Connell’s elite play-calling abilities and modern pass schemes has unlocked this offense.
Without Jones available for most of Sunday’s game, we saw the Minnesota head coach revert back to a very one-sided play-caller. A one-sided play-caller who’s much more predictable for defensive coordinators.
Related: Rich Eisen Called Out by Internet (and KFAN) for Biased Call of Vikings vs Jets
So far this season , Aaron Jones has rushed for 350 yards and 1 touchdown, on 71 carries (4.9 YPC). He’s also added a layer to the pass game that the Minnesota Vikings did not have in 2023. Jones has contributed 17 receptions, 167 yards (9.8 YPR) and another TD to the aerial cause.
Throw in his solid pass block skills, leadership and veteran savvy that can’t be matched, and you quickly realize that there’s nothing the 29-year-old running back can’t do, even at his advanced age, for the position.
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