The Minnesota Vikings emerged from their bye week with few concerns, outside of one key name on the injury report.
Losing veteran running back Aaron Jones for any extended period of time represents a worst-case scenario for Minnesota’s offense.
Jones, who was back at practice on Monday, has been a difference-maker during the Vikings’ 5-0 start to the season. He’s amassed 517 scrimmage yards and two touchdowns despite being forced out of the Vikings’ Week 5 game against the New York Jets with a hip injury. The 28-year-old has helped bolster a Vikings run game that ranked among the bottom teams in the NFL over the past three seasons under coach Kevin O’Connell.
With the NFL trade deadline fast approaching — and big names already on the move — the Vikings could be looking to upgrade their running back depth, as the combination of Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskin doesn’t inspire much confidence behind Jones.
Cody Benjamin of CBSSports.com believes Minnesota will be active in that market. He recently proposed a trade between the Vikings and Houston Texans for 24-year-old running back Dameon Pierce.
Benjamin estimates that Pierce would cost the Vikings one of their two fifth-round picks in 2025. Here was his take on the hypothetical proposal:
A year after landing Cam Akers in-season, the Vikings could use more backfield depth with Aaron Jones coming off a hip injury. And Pierce has seen his role vary by the week in Houston, where the Texans have gotten good results from both Akers, Joe Mixon and Dare Ogunbowale . His combo of size, speed and power would make for a more well-rounded complement to Jones, who's key to Kevin O'Connell's attack but also has an extensive injury history. Anything to keep Sam Darnold comfortable.
Pierce was on the upswing during his rookie year as a fourth-round pick out of Florida. He nearly cracked 1,000 rushing yards during that 2022 season and was named as an alternate for the Pro Bowl.
The Texans brought in Devin Singletary last season on a one-year deal, and Pierce did little to push the veteran for the starting role. Pierce averaged just 2.9 yards per carry in 2023, which prompted the Texans to sign Joe Mixon in free agency. Pierce has been slowed by a hamstring injury to start 2024.
Pierce appears to have plenty in the tank. He got some carries in Houston’s blowout win over the New England Patriots in Week 6, breaking a 54-yard touchdown run to help put that game out of reach.
Considering he’s still on his rookie deal, which paid him a base salary of less than $1 million entering 2024, Pierce is the exact type of low-risk, high-reward move Minnesota should be looking for. The Vikings are short on 2025 draft capital, but sharpening the edges of the roster should be a priority at the deadline as they prepare for a serious playoff run.
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