The Minnesota Vikings, along with the defending two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, are one of the last two unbeaten teams in the league, which surprises many fans who thought the Vikings might be among the worst teams this season.
Starting the season with a 5-0 record, which is only the ninth time in the franchise’s history, suggests they are performing well. However, their shaky game against the New York Jets two weeks ago raised some questions about their true strength.
Quarterback Sam Darnold had a rough outing for the first time this season, and the Vikings almost blew a 17-0 lead. To make things worse, one of their key players, Aaron Jones, had to leave the game early due to a hamstring injury.
The Vikings were fortunate to have a bye in Week 6, giving Jones some extra time to heal without missing any games. Earlier this week, Jones updated reporters about his injury, saying he planned to practice on Thursday and Friday and was hopeful about playing in the important NFC North game against the Detroit Lions.
The news about Aaron Jones looks promising, but the situation is different for tight end T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson, a veteran player, signed a four-year contract extension with the Vikings before the 2023 season, but his first full year with the team was cut short due to ACL and MCL tears he suffered in Week 16 last season against the Detroit Lions. He started this season on the PUP list but returned to practice in early October, hoping to play against his former team.
On Saturday morning, ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler shared updates on whether Vikings fans can expect to see Jones and Hockenson on the field Sunday afternoon.
“Aaron Jones here in Minnesota, they are optimistic that he can come back. Had a little bit of a hamstring this week, they’re going to see how he feels over the weekend. He’s listed as questionable for that huge clash with the Detroit Lions, but I was told he’s feeling pretty good.
They’re hopeful. T.J. Hockenson, the tight end, has been injured dating back to last year, might be an uphill battle to play this week.” – Jeremy Fowler, SportsCenter
