This may have been the plan all along, but from the outside, it looks like the Minnesota Vikings have changed their mind.
After indications that the Vikings would be releasing Jones, he'll actually still play for Minnesota in 2026.
The key, though, is that Jones was sort of released: He'll be back on an amended contract.
"The Vikings and RB Aaron Jones have agreed to a revised contract to keep him in Minnesota for the 2026 season," [NFL Network's Tom Pelissero wrote on X on Wednesday](https://NFL Network's Tom Pelissero wrote on X on Wednesday).
The Vikings would have saved $7.75 million against the salary cap by releasing Jones.
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It sounds like his new deal will come in as at least a couple million in savings, and they'll still get to have the veteran RB on their roster.
Jones did turn 31 in December, which is quite old for a running back.
He also missed five games in 2025, which isn't an ideal sign, either.
When Jones was on the field in 2025, he averaged 4.2 yards per carry, which is the worst rate of his career. He also had 28 catches for 199 yards -- a 7.1 yards per catch number that is the second-worst of his career behind just a small sample size rookie season.
Jones may not have enough left in the tank, but the Vikings seemingly got him to take a pay cut, and that was good enough for now for Minnesota to keep him around and try to make use of whatever he's got left.
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