Aaron Jones hasn’t held back in expressing his appreciation for his time with the Minnesota Vikings.
While part of it might stem from a desire to make a point to the Green Bay Packers for releasing him before free agency, Jones has genuinely embraced every aspect of his journey since joining the Vikings.
In fact, Jones, now a pending free agent, feels so connected to the team that he struggles to envision playing elsewhere.
“This is an incredible organization,” Jones said. “I’d love to finish my career here.”
But that’s a discussion for another day.
The spotlight is on the upcoming Sunday night game between the Vikings and the Lions at Ford Field in Detroit, where the winner will claim the NFC North title and secure the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs. The loser will drop to the No. 5 seed.
Despite being listed as a limited participant in Wednesday’s walkthrough at the TCO Performance Center, Jones made it clear he plans to play on Sunday.
“I’m feeling better and better,” Jones said. “I’ll be ready.”
The uncertainty surrounding Jones’ status stems from a quad injury he sustained in last weekend’s game against the Packers. He was hurt early after landing awkwardly but continued to play through the discomfort before the Vikings opted to play it safe.
How did Jones feel after the game?
“I had some swelling right after the game,” Jones said. “I focused on my recovery right away.”
Jones’ importance to the Vikings cannot be overstated. He’s played in every game this season, rushing 245 times for 1,093 yards and catching 46 passes for 378 yards.
For Jones, the fact that he’s been able to play through the season is a point of pride, especially considering many had written him off after last year.
“Oh definitely,” Jones said. “I missed a few games and played through injuries, and that led to the narrative that I was injury-prone. It feels good to shut that down and prove it wrong. The guys know whatever I go through during the week, I’ll be ready.”
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