The Minnesota Vikings have announced the signing of running back Aaron Jones. Jones, who was released by the Green Bay Packers prior to the 2024 League Year, has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings. Entering his eighth season in the NFL, Jones was originally drafted by Green Bay in the fifth round (182nd overall) of the 2017 NFL Draft.
Jones has played in 97 career games (85 starts) and recorded 1,177 rushes for 5,940 yards and 45 touchdowns. Additionally, he has caught 272 passes for 2,076 yards and 18 touchdowns. He has also started all seven playoff games he appeared in, rushing for 511 yards and seven touchdowns on 104 attempts. In 2023, Jones posted 142 carries for 656 rushing yards (4.6 yards per carry) and two touchdowns and 30 receptions for 233 yards (8.1 yards per reception) and one touchdown in 11 starts. In both playoff contests, he recorded single-game postseason highs with 118 rushing yards and three touchdowns at Dallas (1/14/24) and 108 rushing yards at San Francisco (1/20/24).
During his Packers career, Jones eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in 2019, 2020 and 2022. He ranks No. 3 in franchise history in both rushing yards (5,940) and 100-yard rushing games (20) and No. 4 in rushing touchdowns (45). Among NFL running backs with 850-plus career carries, Jones is fourth in league history with an average of 5.04 yards per carry. Jones was selected to his first Pro Bowl in 2020 after rushing 1,104 yards and nine touchdowns on 201 attempts. In 2019, Jones tied Derrick Henry for the NFL lead in rushing touchdowns (16) and tied Christian McCaffrey in total touchdowns (19). Jones was twice chosen as Green Bay’s nominee for the NFL’s Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (2021 and 2022).
The El Paso, Texas, native attended University of Texas at El Paso from 2013-16 and finished his career as the Miners’ all-time leading rusher with 4,114 rushing yards and ranked No. 1 in school history in 100-yard rushing games (17), No. 2 in rushing touchdowns (33), and all-purpose yards (4,760), and No. 3 in rushing attempts (658) and points (240).
(info courtesy of Vikings)
