Team news: Minnesota Vikings | Page 1

Vikings RB Aaron Jones does not have an injury designation for TNF against the Rams. That's big.

Related Players: Ty Chandler

This is a good-to-great matchup for Jones, and he should be considered an RB1 heading into Thursday Night Football.

The Vikings are officially listing TE T.J. Hockenson as questionable for tomorrow's game against the Rams.

Related Players: Johnny Mundt

It's a great sign for Hockenson and the Vikings offense, but exercise caution in his first game back. If he plays, it could very well be on a limited basis.

With the Vikings playing the Rams on Thursday night, it stands to reason that T.J. Hockenson will be activated this week. But head coach Kevin O’Connell did not commit to the tight end playing when asked about him and guard Dalton Risner — who is also returning from a back injury — on Monday.

“It’s early. We’ll make that determination kind of as these next couple of days [go by],” O’Connell said in his news conference. “As we put together game plans, we want to have a good feel for that. But, very much a possibility.”

The Vikings have been methodical in bringing back Hockenson from the torn ACL and MCL he suffered late last season. But his 21-day practice window is coming to a close, the story pointed out. Hock would be a nice boost for the Vikings and their offense. Even if he plays on Thursday, it would remain to be seen how much he's on the field and if he's on any kind of a pitch count, so it may be best to "wait-and-see" before putting him right in fantasy lineups for his first game back.

The Vikings downgraded TE T.J. (knee) to out for Sunday’s game against the Lions. Hockenson was limited at practice so the Vikings will wait one more week to activate him. He returned to practice October 4, meaning the Vikings will have to activate him by the end of next week or he will miss the rest of the season. In all likelihood, Hockenson will be activated next week and make his season debut in Week 8 against the Rams.

Vikings injury report vs Lions

OUT -- Blake Cashman, Akayleb Evans

QUESTIONABLE -- Aaron Jones, Dalton Risner, T.J. Hockenson, Pat Jones, Harrison Phillips

Related Players: Ty Chandler, C.J. Ham

Still nothing concrete yet, but Chandler would be a fringe RB2/3 if Jones ends up missing Week 7. Otherwise, it'll be Jones there, with Chandler not logging quite enough usage to be fantasy-relevant.

Trade! The Texans are sending RB Cam Akers to the Vikings, sources say.

Related players: Aaron Jones, Ty Chandler, Joe Mixon, Dameon Pierce, Dare Ogunbowale

Houston gets a 2026 conditional sixth-round pick in exchange for Akers and a 2026 conditional seventh-round pick. Of course, it’s a reunion for Akers and Minnesota, which also traded for him last season, the story pointed out. The worry now is maybe Jones, who was injured (hip) before the Vikings bye week, isn't fully healthy just yet, despite being able to practice so far this week. However, the Vikings, who sit at 5-0 so far this season, may just want more RB depth behind Jones and Chandler. As for the Texans, Mixon and Pierce look to be healthy again, and with the emergence of Ogunbowale over the last couple of weeks, Akers became expendable.

Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell says RB Aaron Jones "continues to be evaluated." Says all the information so far signals that they avoided major injury, but he's classified right now as "week to week."

Related players: Ty Chandler

We reported Monday that Jones avoided major injury and had a chance to be back after the team's Week 6 bye. While there was no talk of that in this post, he technically still has a chance to return in Week 7, which is an early game against the Lions. It's still a good idea to try and get Chandler if he's somehow still on your waiver wire.

Vikings RB Aaron Jones will get an MRI on his hip.

Related players: Ty Chandler

From what Rapoport said in his report, the Vikings don't think Jones' hip injury will be a long-term issue. The good news is the team has a bye this week, and Rapoport indicated Jones could very well be back for Week 7. Chandler saw more work with Jones out and has been considered one of the better handcuff options coming into the season. Jones' owners may want to use the bye week to work on obtaining Chandler if they don't already own him.

Vikings RB Aaron Jones left Sunday’s game against the Jets with a hip injury.

Jones left in the first half. He was initially ruled questionable to return before eventually being ruled out. Ty Chandler and Myles Gaskins are getting the work in his place.

Vikings will open T.J. Hockenson’s PUP practice window on FRIDAY, per Kevin O’Connell. He’ll travel with the team to London and have his first practice there. Doesn’t seem to be a chance he will play vs. Jets but the process has begun.

Related Players: Josh Oliver

Hockenson is a fantastic stash anywhere he's not already rostered as he begins his return to an incredible Vikings passing attack. He will be a locked-in TE1 whenever he is able to return.