Vikings Backfield Hits Critical Mass as Aaron Jones Battles Knee Injury

The Minnesota Vikings are currently running a live experiment to see if an NFL team can legally operate without a functioning backfield.

According to ESPN's Kevin Seifert and Adam Schefter, Aaron Jones is now working through a knee injury he picked up late in Sunday's game. He left the field in the fourth quarter to get evaluated by the medical staff and did not return.

"Adam Schefter shared Kevin Seifert's report on Jones working through a knee injury."

The timing is objectively hilarious if you hate the Vikings, and completely devastating if you actually root for them. Jones was only taking on a massive workload because Minnesota just placed Jordan Mason on injured reserve with a thumb injury.

Losing your starter right after your primary backup goes on IR is the kind of roster management nightmare that makes general managers age in dog years. Add in the fact that this happened during a brutal 9-3 rock fight against the Chicago Bears, and the whole situation feels like a punishment for watching the game in the first place.

Fantasy managers who thought they struck gold with this backfield are now staring blankly at their screens. From a betting perspective, it is nearly impossible to trust a Minnesota offense that might have to rely entirely on the passing game just to cross midfield in the coming weeks.

We will see how much Jones can actually practice as the week goes on. If that knee does not heal up fast, the Vikings are going to be pulling guys off the street just to have someone stand next to the quarterback.