Whenever a veteran running back is released from a team and then immediately signed by someone, expectations are lowered. For Aaron Jones, going from one division opponent to another, he has a chance to prove something.
During his training camp tour, Matt Verderame of Sports Illustraed made a stop at Vikings camp. One of the many observations he had was on the new Vikings running back and how he looks despite everyone checking out on him.
“Jones showed good burst and acceleration, something that was a question entering camp after he was released by the Green Bay Packers this offseason. Jones, 29, averages five yards per carry for his career, and the player I saw in Minnesota might keep that figure where it is.”
The team had many issues in terms of consistency out of the backfield last year. The revolving door they had isn’t an option in 2024, and that does add a lot of pressure to Jones. He has shown he is up to the task over time at Green Bay, and that was before he had a chip on his shoulder.
The Vikings hope what Verderame saw at training camp carries into the regular season, potentially even becoming something more than a one-year deal.