It looks like the Vikings will have running back Aaron Jones on Sunday.
Jones injured his shoulder in last Sunday’s win over the Lions and he expressed confidence about his outlook for Week 10 after the game. Joes did so again late this week. but he was still listed as questionable on the final injury report.
Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Jones is expected to be in the lineup against the Ravens in a game both teams need to boost their playoff hopes heading into the final weeks of the regular season.
Safety Theo Jackson (concussion) is also listed as questionable while cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion) and tight end Josh Oliver (foot) have been ruled out.
Vikings running back Aaron Jones’ status for Sunday’s game against the Ravens won’t be settled until closer to kickoff.
Jones injured his shoulder in last Sunday’s win over the Lions, but said after the game that he felt like he’d be ready to go for Week 10. Jones, who is also listed with a toe injury, missed practice on Wednesday, though, and is listed as questionable for this weekend.
Jones had 98 yards on 11 touches before being injured. Jordan Mason would shoulder the backfield load if Jones isn’t able to play.
Safety Theo Jackson (concussion) is also listed as questionable.
The Vikings ruled out cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion) and tight end Josh Oliver (ankle)
A kerfuffle emerged this week regarding the claim by multiple Vikings defensive players that Lions receiver Kalif Raymond engaged in “dirty play” with a blindside (but apparently legal) block on linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel during the Week 9 game. On Thursday, Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores took a softer approach.
“I didn’t think it was malicious,” Flores told reporters, via Kevin Seifert of ESPN.com. “I think it was kind of a bang-bang situation. I see kind of both sides of it. I do think it’s something that maybe [the NFL] will take a look at. I’ll leave it there. Thankfully, there was no big injury and he’s OK. So we’ll chalk it up to football and we’ll let the league kind of look at it and see if they want to take a harder stance or anything like that.”
Raymond, who was coming in motion from right to left, hit Van Ginkel from the side, just after the snap. The block knocked Van Ginkel down; he still tackled Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs for a one-yard loss.
Given the timing of the play, it appeared to be designed that way. And, again, it apparently was not a violation of the existing rule against blindside blocks. The question for the offseason is whether a play like that, when a player going north-south is hit from the side by someone running west-east, should be permitted.
Vikings running back Aaron Jones took a step in the right direction on Thursday.
Jones participated in practice on a limited basis after sitting out on Wednesday. Jones is listed with shoulder and toe injuries, but said last Sunday that he expects to play against the Ravens in Week 10.
The Vikings also got upgraded participation from guard Will Fries (calf), safety Josh Metellus (foot), and safety Theo Jackson (concussion). Fries and Metellus were full participants while Jackson got in a limited practice.
Left tackle Christian Darrisaw (knee) was out of practice. That’s been a usual occurrence this season as the team manages his health. Cornerback Jeff Okudah (concussion) and tight end Josh Oliver (foot) remained out of practice.
The Ravens don’t have any time to waste when it comes to putting together a playoff push after a 3-5 start to the season, so the newest member of their defense won’t have any time to ease himself into the mix for the team.
Jones was acquired in a trade with the Titans this week in the hope that he can help boost a pass rush that’s produced just 11 sacks so far this season. Jones had 4.5 sacks in his final four games with Tennessee and head coach John Harbaugh made it clear on Wednesday that the Ravens are looking for him to start making an impact against the Vikings in Week 10.
“I think he can help a lot, we’re really happy with it,” Harbaugh said, via the team’s website. “He’s a good fit for us. The system he’s been in the last three years is the same system. He picks it up quickly. He’s a really good fit style of play wise. We absolutely will get him weaved into it right away and he’ll be playing on Sunday.”
Jones played for former Ravens assistant Dennard Wilson in Tennessee this year and for another one in Mike Macdonald while with the Seahawks, which is why Harbaugh believes it will be a quick transition. If that results in added pressure on J.J. McCarthy this Sunday, the Ravens will have a better chance of picking up a third straight win.
