Aaron Jones Sr.
Aaron Jones Sr. is now the 1B in a Minnesota backfield that Jordan Mason leads. The knee is called not significant, but it is the MCL sprain he has played through most of the season.
Role
Before his injury Jones was the lead back, with 90% of RB carries and 81% of offensive snaps over the four games Mason missed (ESPN, Kevin Seifert). With Mason back in Week 7 against the Colts, Mason played 64% of snaps and had 15 touches (FantasyLife). Jones had eight carries for 26 yards. Mason had 22 snaps to Jones' 14 through three quarters. Jones left in the fourth quarter, after which Mason had over 75% of RB snaps. Other names in the room: Murray had five carries for 39 yards. Rookie Demond Claiborne was described as not yet ready for regular work, and DeeJay Dallas is on the practice squad. I did not read a current depth chart or the Week 8 injury report.
Jones showed he can still be an every-down back. He had 85 carries and 97 touches in four games, among the most in the NFL over that span, and averaged 21.3 carries per game. Coach Kevin O'Connell praised his workload and called him a warrior. Earlier in the Week 7 game the plan was a real two-man split, and the injury is described as not significant and day-to-day. The Athletic-style view is that he can reclaim a large share if healthy.
Mason was the planned co-starter, and he led the Week 7 split on snaps and carries even before Jones got hurt. SI argues Jones may not be 100% and that the Vikings have every reason to roll with Mason as RB1 against the Lions in Week 8. Jones is 31, was less efficient than Mason on Sunday (3.3 yards per carry to Mason's 4.5), and has reaggravated a sprained MCL, which he has said he had never before been able to play through. Some were already worried about overuse.
Where analysts split
The question is whether Jones keeps a near-even 1B share or drops to a secondary role now that Mason is healthy. That depends on how healthy his knee is. Some cite his four-game workhorse stretch. Others cite Mason's 64% snap share in Week 7 and the knee setback. Whether he plays in Week 8 has not been confirmed in what I read.
Research confidence: reported. Outlooks are grounded in web search over current reporting and refreshed through the season.
Others at RB
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