Minnesota Vikings working again Aaron Jones celebrates after scoring a first-quarter landing towards the Detroit Lions at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. The veteran again energized the house crowd with an early journey to the top zone throughout an vital NFC North matchup. Oct. 20, 2024. Obligatory Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photos.
Aaron Jones enters Yr No. 3 with the Minnesota Vikings in 2026 and Yr No. 10 within the professionals. This week, he despatched a message to his naysayers on Instagram — he ain’t washed.
An odd account used that time period to explain Jones, and he’s evidently utilizing it as gasoline. He didn’t hesitate to right the file.
Jones Thinks the Doubters Have It Fallacious
Minnesota Vikings working again Aaron Jones Sr. carries the soccer towards the Detroit Lions throughout first-half motion at Ford Discipline. The veteran working again remained a focus of Minnesota’s offense, utilizing his imaginative and prescient and burst to generate yards towards a troublesome divisional opponent. Nov. 2, 2025. Obligatory Credit score: Junfu Han-Imagn Photos.
Jones: I’m Not Washed
An Instagram account referred to as “VikesVision” that posts graphics of gamers with daring adjectives within the background discovered its strategy to Jones this week, affixing the “washed” label.
Jones commented, “When the lights come on, it’s Showtyme 😈. Silence the doubters and haters! When I first got in the league, he’s not good enough. He’s too small. Next they say, he’s injury prone — played in just as many games as your favorite backs.”
“Numbers Don’t lie. Line them up with the worlds best! The thing is, no one ever expected me to be here but ME! 10 in and I ain’t stopping now 😤💛🙏🏾.”
It’s unclear why VikesVision arbitrarily referred to as Jones washed within the first place. It’s a pro-Vikings account.
Stint with the Vikings So Far
Final yr was a blended bag for Jones attributable to accidents, limiting him to simply 12 video games. His well being has all the time been a major concern; he’s distinctive when lively, however his absence is felt when he’s sidelined. Regardless of the shortened season, he nonetheless managed a decent 747 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, a strong efficiency for a working again approaching 30.
His most efficient season with the crew was 2024, his inaugural yr in Minnesota, the place he amassed 1,546 yards from scrimmage and seven touchdowns. Apparently, Justin Jefferson recorded the very same yardage complete that season.
Looking forward to 2026, the Vikings’ success hinges on Jones staying wholesome. Whereas his play is effective, by December at 32, he’s not a long-term resolution.
Past his on-field contributions, Jones’s management is essential. With fullback C.J. Ham retired and security Harrison Smith’s future unsure, retaining a veteran presence was vital for the Vikings, and Jones fills that function successfully.
Accepting a Paycut
In the meantime, Jones accepted a paycut to remain in Minnesota this season. The Vikings lowered his base wage to $5.5 million, and he signed off on that association,
Minnesota Vikings working again Aaron Jones carries the soccer in the course of the fourth quarter towards the Houston Texans at U.S. Financial institution Stadium. Jones helped Minnesota shut out one other victory by offering regular manufacturing on the bottom late within the contest. Sept. 22, 2024. Obligatory Credit score: Brad Rempel-Imagn Photos.
It was possible that Jones and his agent poked across the NFL’s free-agent panorama and shortly realized he wouldn’t fetch greater than $5.5 million with a brand new crew, making it a no brainer to stay in Minnesota at a diminished value.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz remarked in March, “Keeping Jones around at roughly 60 percent of his previous base salary makes some sense for the Vikings, especially with the free agent running back class being pretty picked over already. The former longtime Packer should still have some juice left as part of a committee backfield.”
Minnesota additionally lowered tight finish T.J. Hockenson’s wage, so it was obvious that the franchise needed to maintain its veteran management — on its phrases.
Shared Backfield?
Keep in mind final yr, when the Vikings rolled into the common season with Jones and Jordan Mason as the primary working backs? That’s taking place once more, and this time, it’s a whole thriller in regards to the true RB1. That’s — nobody is aware of who will take the primary hand-off from Kyler Murray or J.J. McCarthy towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 1.
Mason rushed for 758 yards on 159 makes an attempt in 16 video games, with 6 touchdowns. Jones missed 5 video games, accruing 458 speeding yards and three touchdowns on 132 carries. Mason logged 4.8 yards per carry — Jones at 4.2
Minnesota Vikings working again Aaron Jones runs onto the sector earlier than a street sport towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers at Lambeau Discipline. The veteran returned to face his former crew after spending seven seasons with the Packers earlier than becoming a member of Minnesota. Sept. 29, 2024. Obligatory Credit score: Tork Mason-USA TODAY Community by way of Imagn Photos.
Minnesota’s backfield needs to be in good fingers, although it lacks a youthful spark until Sixth-Spherical rookie Demond Claiborne turns heads instantly.
FantasyLife‘s Ian Hartitz famous on Claiborne final month, “As for Claiborne: Maybe there could be something here! Ace NFL Draft expert Dane Brugler’s one-line summary for the Wake Forest product was, “A low-calorie De’Von Achane: small, darting, electric.” There are some warranted dimension (5-foot-9, 188 kilos) and “little things” considerations, however then once more, this isn’t precisely a depth chart stuffed with world-beaters.”
“In the end, Jones may not be somebody you’re thrilled to plug in as your RB2, however he’s undoubtedly a worth based mostly on his projection (RB32) vs. ADP (RB40). An identical sentiment is true for Mason, who, at a minimal, appears priced nearer to his ground than his ceiling. I’m doubtful Claiborne ever will get an opportunity at a fantasy-viable function, however you might think about what it’d be like if he did.’
Jones will flip 32 in December.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
