The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 NFL season. After finishing 7-10 in 2023, and losing rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy to a season-ending knee injury this preseason, expectations were low going into this year.
Now, heading into Week 18, the Vikings sit at 14-2 and have a chance to clinch the NFC's No. 1 overall seed on Sunday with a win over the Detroit Lions.
The success on the offensive side of the ball can be credited to head coach Kevin O’Connell and quarterback Sam Darnold, but running back Aaron Jones deserves his share, too.
Jones joined the Vikings this past offseason after spending his first seven seasons with NFC North rivals, the Green Bay Packers. After battling injuries last year, he's made a strong comeback so far in 2024, rushing 245 times for 1,093 yards and five touchdowns.
The Vikings faced the Packers in Week 17 and Jones got the chance to speak with many of his former teammates after the game, including Green Bay wide reciever Jayden Reed.
"I've been watching ya'll," Jones said. "I keep up with ya'll."
Jones finished the game rushing 12 times for 47 yards.
Despite the Vikings’ 27-25 victory over his former team, Jones still holds a “soft spot” for Green Bay. The Packers took a chance on him as a fifth-round pick from UTEP in the 2017 NFL draft, and he later emerged as their starting running back for several years.
