Things to Watch Out for During the Minnesota Vikings' Bye Week

Minnesota Vikings fans worldwide are likely to be disappointed that their team haa a bye this weekend. Even though no game will be played, important things are still happening for this 5-0 Vikings squad.

There is concern surrounding Aaron Jones' injury against the Packers and whether he will miss any time after the bye week. T.J. Hockenson has also returned to practice, and it will be exciting to see if he's ready to play in week 7 when the Vikings play the Detroit Lions.

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Aaron Jones' Injury Status

This Vikings team has looked almost unstoppable when Aaron Jones is on the field and healthy. When he is off the field, they have looked sluggish and have struggled to maintain any sort of consistency. He has gained over 500 yards from the line of scrimmage as a runner and receiver. If he does miss any time, the Purple will most likely struggle to find somebody to replace his productivity.

It looks as if he has avoided a major injury but is still listed as week to week. Head Coach Kevin O'Connell said he is week-to-week with the hip injury that he sustained during the win over the New York Jets in London. Minnesota's offense could not manage more than three yards per carry after he exited that game. This makes this bye week a crucial one for the Vikings RB room as well as the offense as a whole.

T.J. Hockenson's Return

T.J. Hockenson has been able to return to the field to practice alongside his teammates. This bye week will be a crucial part of his recovery from ACL and MCL tears in his right knee suffered during a week 16 matchup against the Lions in 2023.

He looks to return in Week 7 against the same Detroit team that traded him to their divisional opponents, the Vikings, in November of 2022. His recovery is going well and he could even be ahead of schedule with his rehabilitation from the reconstruction surgeries. He must be activated by October 24th or be placed on the season-ending injured reserve if his knee does not respond well in practice.

What To Watch

To wrap things up, there is a lot to watch this weekend as a Vikings fan even if your beloved team will not be in action. It will be important for the continued success of their season to see if Jones can return quickly and if Hockenson can make his long-awaited return from his knee injury.

There are also other NFC North Matchups that will be important to keep an eye on this Sunday. The 3-2 Chicago Bears take on the 1-4 Jacksonville Jaguars in London at 8:30 AM CST. The 3-2 Green Bay Packers take on the 2-3 Arizona Cardinals at 12 noon CST in Green Bay. The Final NFC North matchup is the 3-1 Detroit Lions facing the 3-2 Dallas Cowboys at 3:25 PM CST in Dallas.

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Article originally written by Eli Kuphal