Aaron Jones has started his eighth NFL season and is heading into a new chapter with the Minnesota Vikings, just as he approaches his 30th birthday in December. He is focused on staying healthy and continuing to perform at a high level as a running back.
“I feel like every year, I’m getting better and better, and last year I felt like I was just about to start entering my prime,” said Jones, who was limited to 11 games with Green Bay in 2023 due to hamstring and knee injuries.
Despite these injuries, Jones made a strong comeback at the end of the season, rushing for 584 yards in his last five games, including two playoff games.
However, the Packers released him after he refused to take another significant pay cut. The Vikings, who had struggled with rushing yards per game in recent seasons, quickly signed him.
“Those last five kind of showed, like, hey, the game’s slowing down a little more and more for me,” Jones said after practice on Monday. “I can see different things, and I’m able to hit different holes or set dudes up the way I want to, versus maybe before I hadn’t been able to because the game was still a little fast.”
Most running backs don’t get the chance to use their improved skills and understanding of the game to achieve more success at his age, as teams often consider them too worn out for the demands of the game.
Jones, who will turn 30 on Dec. 2, is determined to have a longer and more successful career than most at his position.
He has studied the careers of durable players like Emmitt Smith and Frank Gore and has even sought advice from new teammate Harrison Smith, the oldest active defensive back in the NFL at 35, on stretching techniques.
“The other day, we were talking in the locker room about how much money it would take for someone to quit playing football,” Jones said. “I told them, ‘Honestly, no amount of money would make me stop.’”
Jones, who signed a one-year contract for $7 million, believes he still has a lot to offer and feels he could keep playing for another eight years.
Jones had missed only four games in the previous four seasons before 2023, so he has had a fairly healthy career with the Packers since being drafted in 2017. However, he is aware of how fragile his career can be.
He praised the Vikings’ medical staff for their proactive approach to player health, which includes a personalized pre-practice routine—called “prehab”—that he started doing on his own this summer.
“They were like, ‘We were already thinking about that. We’ve got a plan ready. Just tell us which part of your body you need to work on, and we’ve got it,’” Jones said. He added, “I chose my hamstrings, knees, and ankles. Let’s warm them all up.”
Jones mentioned that this was the first offseason he had done this type of work. He feels much fresher this September than he did last year.
“It’s always a trial and error process each year,” Jones said. “Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, you don’t. It’s always changing.”
Having third-year backup Ty Chandler, who rushed for 461 yards and three touchdowns last season and took over as the starter towards the end of the year, should help keep Jones on the field. The Vikings might end up sharing snaps evenly between the two.
“I’m excited to be working with him,” Jones said. “I’m confident he’s going to do amazing things this year, and I’ll support him and be his biggest fan.”
The Vikings have high expectations for Jones, considering his skill in catching passes and his ability to handle different types of plays.
Coach Kevin O’Connell noted that Jones seems like he’s been with the Vikings for years due to his leadership and maturity.
“He’s just a great runner,” offensive coordinator Wes Phillips said. “He has a good view of the field and can explain in real-time what he’s seeing and why he made certain moves.
Having another talented player like him is a big advantage for us. The offensive line performs better when there are good runners behind it.”