The injury that knocked Minnesota running back Aaron Jones out of today’s game in Detroit was not a serious one.
Jones suffered a minor AC joint sprain in his shoulder and expects to play next week against the Ravens, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
When he’s healthy, Jones is the Vikings’ starting running back, and today he was off to a good start with nine carries for 78 yards and two catches for 20 yards before he got hurt. Injuries have limited Jones throughout the season, however, and Jordan Mason has been the Vikings’ leading rusher for most of the year.
Today’s win improved the Vikings’ record to 4-4, and they’ll look to get above .500 next week, hopefully with a big game from Jones.
The Vikings started today’s game in Detroit with Myles Price’s 61-yard return of the opening kickoff. Late in the game, the Vikings blocked a field goal and returned it 41 yards. In between, the Vikings’ relentless pass rush pressured Lions quarterback Jared Goff all day.
It all added up to a big upset in Detroit, with the Vikings beating the Lions, 27-24.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy returned from the ankle injury that has kept him out for most of the season, and he threw two first-quarter touchdown passes, but after that the Lions’ defense kept him in check. McCarthy finnished 14-for-25 for 143 yards, with two touchdowns and one interception. McCarthy’s best play may have been his last, a 16-yard pass on third-and-5 that allowed the Vikings to run out the clock.
Goff completed 25 of 37 passes for 284 yards and two touchdowns, but he was sacked five times. The Lions’ running backs struggled, with David Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs combining for 65 yards on 20 carries.
Today’s results make the NFC North much more competitive: The Vikings improve to 4-4 with the win and the Lions fall to 5-3 with the loss. Combine it with the Packers losing to fall to 5-2-1, and it may be the most competitive division in football over the second half of the season.
Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy is back from the ankle injury that has sidelined him for most of this season, and he’s looking good in Detroit.
McCarthy has thrown two touchdown passes as the Vikings took a 17-14 lead over the Lions at halftime.
Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson each caught a touchdown from McCarthy and the Vikings also got a 50-yard field goal from Will Reichard.
The Vikings’ pass rush has been relentless at getting to Lions quarterback Jared Goff, and that has caused the Lions’ offense to stall at times. If McCarthy and the Vikings’ defense can play this way for another 30 minutes, an upset could be coming in Detroit.
Lions coach Dan Campbell is the best in the business at knowing when to go for it on fourth down, and he did it again on the opening drive today.
With the Lions facing fourth-and-4 at the Vikings’ 40-yard line on the first drive of the game, Campbell kept his offense on the field. The result was Jared Goff hitting Sam LaPorta for a 40-yard touchdown.
LaPorta was great on the opening possession, catching all three passes thrown to him for 66 yards. Campbell praised LaPorta this week for growing as a blocker, but so far today it’s been his work as a receiver that’s moving the Lions’ offense down the field.
But the Lions’ 7-0 lead didn’t last long: Myles Price returned the ensuing kickoff 61 yards for the Vikings, and with a short field the Vikings had a short drive that ended with J.J. McCarthy hitting Justin Jefferson for a 10-yard touchdown to tie the score at 7-7.
Word on Saturday was that Joe Flacco was on track to start at quarterback for the Bengals in Sunday’s home game against the Bears and official word of his status came on Sunday morning.
Flacco is active despite the right shoulder injury that caused him to miss Wednesday’s practice and limited him the rest of the week. Flacco was hurt on a sack in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s loss to the Jets, but he did not miss any offensive plays.
The Bengals will be without defensive end Trey Hendrickson for the second time in three games. Hendrickson is inactive after being listed as doubtful to play due to a hip injury.
Bears at Bengals
Bears: RB D’Andre Swift, QB Case Keenum, LB Ruben Hyppolite, WR Luther Burden, RB Roschon Johnson, DL Dominique Robinson
Bengals: CB Marco Wilson, LB Logan Wilson, OL Dalton Risner, WR Jermaine Burton, TE Cam Grandy, DE Trey Hendrickson, QB Sean Clifford
Falcons at Patriots
Falcons: CB Billy Bowman, RB Nathan Carter, OL Michael Jerrell, WR Casey Washington, DL Ta’Quon Graham, DL Zach Harrison
Patriots: LB Caleb Murphy, DT Eric Gregory, G Caedan Wallace, S John Saunders, QB Tommy DeVito, RB Rhamondre Stevenson
Chargers at Titans
Chargers: S Tony Jefferson, CB Tarheeb Still, LB Kyle Kennard, G Mekhi Becton, T Austin Deculus, TE Will Dissly
Titans: WR Calvin Ridley, DT Jeffery Simmons, LB Arden Key, OL Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, WR Bryce Oliver, S Xavier Woods, OL Drew Moss
Colts at Steelers
Colts: DE Samson Ekubam, RB DJ Giddens, WR Anthony Gould, DE Tyquan Lewis, S Reuben Lowery, TE Will Mallory, T Luke Tenuta
Steelers: WR Scotty Miller, S Chuck Clark, LB Cole Holcomb, S Jabrill Peppers, OL Andrus Peat, DL Logan Lee
49ers at Giants
49ers: QB Brock Purdy, RB Jordan James, WR Ricky Pearsall, C Jake Brendel, DE Bryce Huff, DL CJ West, S Marques Sigle
Giants: S Jevón Holland, CB Paulson Adebo, CB Cor’Dale Flott, DL Chauncey Golston, T Jermaine Eluemunor, TE Daniel Bellinger, QB Jameis Winston
Broncos at Texans
Broncos: CB Pat Surtain, TE Nate Adkins, WR Marvin Mims, S P.J. Locke, DL Sai’vion Jones, DL Jordan Jackson, RB Jaleel McLaughlin
Texans: QB Graham Mertz, RB Dameon Pierce, T Jarrett Kingston, T Trent Brown, DE Dylan Horton
Vikings at Lions
Vikings: FB CJ Ham, T Walter Rouse, TE Josh Oliver, TE Ben Sims, DT Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, LB Austin Keys, CB Jeff Okudah
Lions: RB Craig Reynolds, DT Quinton Jefferson, DT Mekhi Wingo, S Erick Hallett, S Kerby Joseph, S Jammie Robinson
Panthers at Packers
Panthers: LB Princely Umanmielen, WR Hunter Renfrow, QB Mike White, C Cade Mays, TE James Mitchell, DT Cam Jackson
Packers: WR Dontayvion Wicks, K Lucas Havrisik, OL Jacob Monk, OL Donovan Jennings, DL Lukas Van Ness, DL Warren Brinson
