Running back Aaron Jones just gave us his best Mike Conley impression, and is now back with the team just days after it was announced he would be released. Now Jones, who was set to make $10 million in 2026, will return to Minnesota on a revised, more team-friendly deal worth $5.6 million.
During his first season with the Vikings in 2024, Jones set career highs in touches, carries, and rushing yards. However, injuries and maybe age slowed him down in 2025. His days as a bellcow running back are almost certainly over, but Minnesota will still likely ask Jones to handle a significant workload in 2026. The question is, which version of Aaron Jones will the Vikings get?
The easy response would probably be to say the 2025 Aaron Jones, who, at 31 years old, averaged a career-low 4.2 yards per carry. His rush yards after contact, yards per touch, and several other key stats were also career lows. Jones isn’t getting any younger, and outside of Derrick Henry, the number of top-end running backs still producing at age 32 is fewer than the number of general managers the Vikings currently employ.
While there’s no guarantee Jones will be able to stay healthy this upcoming season, injuries were a major factor in his disappointing play this past year. Jones basically admitted as much after the season, saying he was battling some type of injury from Week 2 on.
Here’s Jones on the Night Cap show at the NFL Combine:
I feel like when I’m healthy, when I’m out there, I can’t be f’ed with. I never felt like – Week 2 – I pulled my hamstring, and then I really wasn’t feeling myself until Detroit. I came out in the first half and had, like, 78 yards. Then at the start of the third quarter – AC joint – missed the rest of it just battling. Just get back to it, really grind this offseason, and show everybody I still got it. I’m still him, and I am the best running back.
Considering Jones was fighting through pulled hamstrings, AC joint sprains, and likely migraines from watching Vikings’ game film, 4.2 yards per carry is not too shabby. And let’s not forget — that’s his career low. Some running backs in the league would be happy to average that type of yardage for an entire career. Still, his yards per carry have dropped each of the last four seasons, and there’s still a real possibility 2026 marks the fifth-straight year.
But Jones is far from a one-dimensional back. While his speed and power may be declining, his ability to pick up yardage and catch the ball remains attractive. In 2024, Jones alone accounted for 20% of all first downs for Minnesota. Despite the down year in 2025 and the addition of Jordan Mason, he still accounted for 19% of them in the games he played. So it’s clear that the Vikings still trust Jones in the clutch, and his nose for the line to gain won’t go away, even his elite athleticism does.
Putting Jones aside for a moment, Minnesota’s offensive line didn’t exactly do him any favors either. What was supposed to be a strength of the offense ended up being a revolving door of players in a desperate attempt to keep the run game moving and J.J. McCarthy conscious. Outside of Will Fries, who was coming off a broken leg, every starter up front missed at least some time. Pro Football Focus ranked Minnesota’s line 13th overall in its run-blocking grades, but its yards before contact per attempt was much worse, ranking 20th.
Hopefully, with some better injury luck up front in 2026, it’s not too far-fetched to think that alone can boost Minnesota’s run game to good enough levels.
With Mason also returning to the backfield, the Vikings don’t necessarily need to address running back on Day 1 or maybe even Day 2 of the NFL Draft. However they approach it, it’s clear Minnesota is missing one thing Jones and Mason can’t offer.
Both Super Bowl teams — the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks — ranked among the top five in offensive explosive plays last year. Although Jones and Mason are a solid one-two punch, neither can make game-breaker plays. The longest carry for either last season was just 31 yards. For the Vikings to take their run game to the next level, they’ll need to find a home-run hitter.
Still, at $5.6 million, it’s clear that the Vikings are again looking to make Jones a sizable part of their game plans in 2026. He’ll likely see anywhere from 10-15 touches per game, and how much he actually gets will depend on which Aaron Jones shows up. But really, if he can stay healthy, there’s no reason to doubt he can get close to his 2024 form.
The Vikings are largely running things back in 2026, it seems, and why shouldn’t they? They were essentially one Chicago Bears’ kick return away from the playoffs, and should have some more consistent quarterback play this year. Bringing back Jones on a smaller deal was one of the best moves Minnesota could have made, despite his age, and there’s no question he’ll show up when it’s time.