Aaron Jones injury update: Vikings RB cleared to make return on TNF vs. Chargers

The Minnesota Vikings (3-3) have activated running back Aaron Jones off injured reserve. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Jones is expected to suit up and play in Thursday’s Week 8 road contest against the Los Angeles Chargers (4-3).

Jones, 30, has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury. Minnesota placed him on injured reserve, and his 21-day practice window opened on Tuesday. He was listed as a limited participant on Tuesday and Wednesday’s injury reports. The Vikings waived rookie linebacker Kobe King to make room for Jones.

“Yeah, he’s a guy that you don’t need to really kind of get out there and test too much because of his rehab and the work he’s done on the side fields,” head coach Kevin O’Connell said Tuesday. “He’s a veteran player. He knows what he has to do. He knows what he needs to feel like.”

Jones has rushed for 46 yards on 13 carries this season. In his absence, Jordan Mason has taken the lion’s share of carries. Mason has been efficient, rushing for 380 yards on 4.5 yards per carry, to go along with four rushing touchdowns.

For his career, Jones has four 1,000-yard rushing seasons, three coming during his seven-year tenure with the Green Bay Packers (4-1-1). In total, Jones has rushed for 7,124 yards and 50 touchdowns on 4.9 yards per carry.

Vikings will have Aaron Jones against Chargers, J.J. McCarthy still out

The Vikings are looking to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. Carson Wentz will once again get the start under center in place of the injured J.J. McCarthy.

“Earlier this morning, we did put J.J. McCarthy through an on-field workout just to see if he had a chance to make it this week,” O’Connell said, via the team’s official website. “J.J., the medical staff, myself, we’re all encouraged about where he’s at and the progress he’s making, but he’s just not there. And if this was a Sunday game, maybe it would be a little bit of a different story, and we could push it throughout the week and smee where he’s at toward the end of the week.

“But really, I look at today almost as the combination of a Wednesday-Thursday, but really it is a Friday on the timeline of coming up on being 48 hours out from the game,” O’Connell added. “So, we wanted to have a plan at the quarterback position, and it’ll be very similar to last week. Carson will start, Max [Brosmer] will be the backup, and J.J. will be available in the case of emergency as the third. Like I said, encouraged about where [McCarthy is] at and very much looking forward to continuing his progression, hopefully having a chance to go next week.”