The Minnesota Vikings can finally exhale after what looked like another devastating blow to their offense. Star running back Aaron Jones, who left Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions with a shoulder injury, appears to have avoided the worst-case scenario.
According to early reports, Jones’ injury is not considered season-ending, and the Vikings are optimistic he’ll return to the lineup sooner rather than later. The veteran back was seen grimacing in pain after taking a hard hit midway through the game, immediately sparking fears of another long-term absence.
Jones’ performance before the injury was vintage — showing his trademark burst and vision that helped Minnesota control the tempo against Detroit’s defense. His 70-yard outing and one touchdown played a huge part in breaking the Vikings’ losing streak and spoiling the Lions’ momentum coming off their bye.
The Vikings will continue to monitor Jones’ progress throughout the week, but the early signs are promising. With rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy settling in and the offense finally finding its rhythm, keeping Jones healthy could be key to Minnesota’s playoff push in the NFC North.
For now, Vikings fans can breathe easy — the nightmare scenario seems to have been dodged.
