Aaron Jones Sidelined with Hip Injury During Vikings-Jets Game in London

Running back Aaron Jones has been sidelined for the remainder of the Minnesota Vikings‘ Week 5 game against the New York Jets in London due to a hip injury, as confirmed by NFL Network play-by-play announcer Rich Eisen during the live broadcast. Jones, who had been initially deemed “questionable” to return by sideline reporter Stacey Dales, recorded 29 yards on seven rushing attempts and one reception for 24 yards before leaving the game.

Jones entered Sunday’s game with a total of 321 rushing yards this season, ranking eighth among all NFL players, alongside one touchdown on 64 attempts. He has also contributed significantly with 16 receptions amounting to 143 yards and one touchdown.

In the offseason, Jones signed a one-year, $7 million contract with the Vikings as a free agent. He previously spent the first seven seasons of his NFL career with the Green Bay Packers, a rival team in the NFC North Division. Drafted out of the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), Jones was selected by the Packers at No. 182 overall in the fifth round of the 2017 NFL Draft.

During the 2023 regular season, Jones accumulated 656 yards and two touchdowns on 142 rushing attempts over 11 games. He also managed 226 yards and three touchdowns on 39 rushing attempts during two playoff games, averaging 113.0 yards per game. The 29-year-old co-led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2019 alongside then-Tennessee Titans running back Derrick Henry and was selected to a Pro Bowl in 2020.

The Vikings’ offense, however, appeared to maintain its momentum despite the absence of Jones. After stopping the Jets on a fourth down at their 26-yard line, the Vikings successfully drove for a touchdown, aided by pass interference penalties called against the Jets during attempts to reach wide receiver Justin Jefferson. This series of events set up fullback C.J. Ham to score a touchdown, extending the Vikings’ lead to 17-0 late in the second quarter.