Vikings RB Aaron Jones Suffers Hamstring Injury vs Falcons

Minnesota Vikings fans faced tough news on Sunday night as the team not only fell to the Atlanta Falcons 22-6, but also suffered multiple key injuries.

Running back Aaron Jones strained his hamstring in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium and was forced to leave the game.

Vikings RB Aaron Jones questionable to return with hamstring injury https://t.co/ZczDKKeBhB pic.twitter.com/cZ1KdoZU23
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) September 15, 2025

Unfortunately, Jones was not the only casualty. Center Ryan Kelly exited the game in the first half with a concussion after already managing a toe injury. Later, left tackle Justin Skule, who was filling in for the injured Christian Darrisaw, also entered concussion protocol in the third quarter.

These injuries left quarterback J.J. McCarthy behind a shuffled offensive line, which struggled to protect him. The Vikings allowed six sacks, equaling their total points scored. Head coach Kevin O’Connell admitted the situation was tough, especially with backup linemen stepping in mid-game:

“Obviously when you’ve got your backup center and your third tackle coming into the game, it’s going to be hard,” O’Connell said. “But, I mean, there’s probably 10 teams that went through similar things around the NFL.”

Rookie Michael Jurgens, a seventh-round pick in 2024, replaced Kelly at center, while Walter Rouse stepped in at tackle—both taking their first NFL snaps. Jurgens admitted to some early mistakes, including a miscommunication that led to a false-start penalty, but said the experience was valuable despite the result.

The Vikings’ offensive struggles continue, and with injuries now piling up, the team faces even bigger questions heading into the coming weeks. Fans will be watching closely to see how quickly Aaron Jones and the others can recover, as the offense looks for stability and a much-needed spark.