Minnesota Vikings running back Aaron Jones avoided a serious injury during Sunday’s victory over the Indianapolis Colts, with team officials listing him as day-to-day with a knee issue as the undefeated franchise prepares for a Week 8 matchup.
The Minnesota Vikings pushed their record to 6-0 on October 25, 2026, defeating the Indianapolis Colts 16-10 at U.S. Bank Stadium. The victory, however, came with a significant health scare in the fourth quarter when lead running back Aaron Jones Sr. went down after a 17-yard run and headed straight for the blue medical tent.
🚨Aaron Jones takes a hit to the outside of his left knee, creating a whipping motion at the joint.However, you can also see the medial side of the knee whip as a result of contact from another Colts defender. Concern for a potential ligament injury here. We’ll see how this… pic.twitter.com/3efZh1IUTQ
Aaron Jones Evaluated for Knee Injury Following Colts Victory
Jones was already playing through a sprained left MCL sustained in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears before absorbing a hard hit on a speed option play on his final carry of the afternoon.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed that Jones aggravated the same left knee he had already hurt earlier in the year. Initial reports point toward relief for the backfield, as the knee injury is not considered to be significant at this time, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Schefter’s source described him as day-to-day. Per Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk, Jones will undergo an MRI on the knee sometime during the week.
Vikings RB Aaron Jones’ knee injury that he suffered during Sunday’s win over the Colts is not considered to be significant at this time, and a source described him as “day to day.”
For the season, Jones has rushed for 436 yards and two touchdowns on 105 carries, plus 13 catches for 72 yards, though other reporting notes his totals as 410 yards on the ground and 12 receptions. He is 31 years old and has a vital role within the Vikings’ offense. DraftKings Sportsbook confirmed that Jones qualified for Early Exit+ protection for customers who had the feature toggled on for their wagers.
Jordan Mason Steps Back Into Backfield Workload
In his return against Indianapolis, Mason led the Vikings by handling the primary rushing duties, converting 15 backfield touches into 68 rushing yards for an average of 4.5 yards per carry.
Heading into the season, it was expected to be a timeshare between Jones and Mason, with Mason focusing more on the ground game and Jones getting more work in the passing game. With Jones managing knee soreness, keeping Mason in a bigger role can help Jones return to full health and assist an offense looking to unlock its full firepower. Other running backs in the room include Demond Claiborne and DeeJay Dallas. Few teams run the ball as often as Minnesota, with only the Bears (35.1) and Ravens (30.2) eclipsing the Vikings’ 30.1 rushing attempts per game.
Vikings Face Lions as Jones Status Remains Uncertain
The undefeated Vikings will be on the road to face the 4-2 Detroit Lions on Sunday afternoon, November 1, 2026, in Week 8. Whether Jones can suit up for that matchup remains under observation as test results return, though the day-to-day designation indicates Minnesota is not close to ruling him out.
Aaron Jones, who has been playing with a sprained left MCL, went straight to the blue tent after getting hit on that 17-yard run.
Meanwhile, external speculation continues regarding potential roster moves before the trade deadline, with 16 days remaining until the deadline as reports have linked the Vikings to running backs like Saquon Barkley and Jonathan Taylor. Colts running back Jonathan Taylor played against Minnesota on Sunday, scoring a touchdown in the first quarter, and carries a contract extension running through 2028. Both Jones and Mason are under contract only through 2026, and analysts note that urgency to add a running back could increase if Jones misses time.
Aaron Jones’ preexisting left MCL sprain likely contributed to today’s knee issue. Without that underlying injury, I don’t believe this would have affected him much.If Jones misses time, Minnesota does have Jordan Mason back. pic.twitter.com/VfbPwciyjk
More on Aaron Jones
LIVE: Head Coach Kevin O'Connell https://t.co/pzu5Nz4hH3
Aaron Jones has been ruled out in the 2nd half — Early Exit+ is in effect, for FREE 🛡️If you have applied Early Exit+, all qualifying Sportsbook wagers will be honored!More details: https://t.co/GqYLTh85eU pic.twitter.com/K3E0IeJsCO
Vikings RB Aaron Jones will have an MRI on his knee on Monday. The hope is that it won't be a long-term injury. https://t.co/EC8Bzcqs77