Aaron Jones Exits With Knee Injury Because The Vikings Can't Have Nice Things

Aaron Jones is officially questionable to return with a knee injury, which means fantasy managers and Minnesota Vikings fans are currently staring blankly at their televisions. NFL Network's Mike Garafolo broke the news that the veteran running back was forced out of Sunday's divisional rock fight against the Chicago Bears.

Losing your starting running back in the middle of a 6-3 game is the exact opposite of ideal. The Vikings offense relies heavily on Jones to keep the chains moving, and his sudden absence leaves a massive void in a matchup where every single yard feels like pulling teeth.

Before heading to the sideline, Jones had been putting together a highly productive campaign. He came into the week sitting on 548 rushing yards and a couple of touchdowns, plus another 199 yards through the air. That kind of dual-threat production is not something you just replace by asking the next guy on the depth chart to stretch his calves and run hard.

Of course, anyone who has followed Jones knows that his medical file reads like a CVS receipt. Between the hamstring strains that previously landed him on injured reserve and a career history of MCL sprains, the man has spent way too much time in the trainer's room. Betting on a fully healthy season from a 31-year-old running back is basically just donating your money to the sportsbooks.

For now, the Vikings have to figure out how to survive the rest of this game in Chicago without their primary engine. If Jones cannot get back on the field, Minnesota will be forced to lean entirely on their depth to grind out a win. Expect a very tense postgame press conference and a looming MRI appointment on Monday morning.