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When will Aaron Jones return and play? Will Aaron Jones be back again this season? Read the latest Aaron Jones injury updates and return date for Week 5 (2025).
Aaron Jones Sr. rushed for a career-high 1,138 yards in his first season as a Minnesota Viking, setting up expectations that he could continue performing as a low-end RB2 in the 2025 season.
Unfortunately, Jones suffered a hamstring injury in Week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons.
When will Jones return to action, and what is his fantasy football outlook when he does? Let's dive in.
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Aaron Jones Sr. Injury Update
Jones' hamstring injury was serious enough to land him on the injured reserve. IR placement means the injured player must miss the next four weeks before their team is able to return them to the lineup. For Jones, having been placed on the IR in Week 3, that would be Week 7, when the Vikings host the Philadelphia Eagles.
Jones' injury appeared to be serious at the time. He was placed on the IR as soon as the Week 2 game ended. The Vikings have suffered a fair share of injuries amongst their starters. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is likely to miss Week 5, then the whole team will have time to rest during their Week 6 bye.
It is possible that Jones and McCarthy will both be able to make their homecomings in Week 7, but the news is uncertain. Fantasy managers must continue to monitor the injury reports.
Vikings Place Aaron Jones Sr. on Injured Reserve With Hamstring Injuryhttps://t.co/6WlsUMt7of
— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) September 16, 2025
Aaron Jones Fantasy Football Outlook
While he was only on the field for parts of two games, Jones was not as productive in terms of volume or efficiency as he had been last season. In each of his first two games, Jones had eight or fewer carries for exactly 23 yards and no rushing touchdowns.
In Week 1, he did find the end zone as a receiver and gained 44 yards on three catches. When he returns, he can still be expected to be the Vikings' primary pass-catching running back.
However, Jordan Mason has done enough to warrant a continued role in the Vikings' offense, especially on early downs and in short-yardage situations. Mason has gained 271 yards on 56 carries and scored two touchdowns.
The possibility that Mason remains a feature of the offense is all the more likely when you consider that this past offseason, the Vikings were already talking about operating a backfield "tandem."
"It's Aaron and Jordan," Coach Kevin O'Connell was quoted as saying.
Early indications in training camp were that Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason would have closer to a 50-50 backfield split than any previous season under Kevin O'Connell. Here's how it went Monday:
Aaron Jones
Plays: 28
Touches: 11Jordan Mason
Plays: 30
Touches: 16— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 9, 2025
With both backs healthy in Week 1, Mason outcarried Jones, taking 15 carries for 68 yards. His big breakout came in Week 3 when he ran for 116 yards and two scores on 16 carries.
The fact that Mason has been playing so well means the Vikings will feel no pressure to rush Jones back before he's 100%. If there's any question about his health, Minnesota would be more likely to give him another week to rest. Moreover, when he does return to the lineup, he might be eased in slowly.
Managers in 12-team formats with an IR spot on their roster should continue to stash Jones, but they should not expect him to return to low-end RB2 value later in the season. When Jones does get put back into the lineup, it would be smart to wait before starting him to see what his usage looks like.
Mason, who is four years younger than Jones, will likely remain the Vikings' primary RB for the rest of the season. Even after Jones returns, Mason would be a viable RB2. Jones should be serviceable as a FLEX option with upside in full-PPR leagues.
Jones is worth stashing, but his ceiling is limited.
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